Premier League announce Sunderland vs Leeds United referee who made crucial error in same fixture last season

The Premier League have confirmed their latest round of referee appointments with Stuart Attwell to take charge of Sunderland vs Leeds United.

Daniel Farke’s side head to the Stadium of Light on Sunday looking to continue their steadily impressive start to the campaign. Leeds have lost just once in the Premier League so far at current champions Arsenal, drawing 1-1 at home to Manchester United last time out.

Hosts Sunderland have endured a more difficult few weeks, winning just once in the league. The Black Cats lost 2-0 at Bournemouth last weekend and following a win for Tottenham Hotspur against Coventry City on Monday, now sit bottom of the table.

Ahead of Sunday’s Wearside meeting, the Premier League have confirmed the appointment of Attwell as referee. He will be assisted by Constantine Hatzidakis and Nick Hopton, with Andy Madley as fourth official and Craig Pawson on VAR duties at Stockley Park.

Attwell has been in charge of four Premier League matches so far this season, blowing for 26.75 fouls and brandishing six yellow cards per game on average. That makes him one of the division’s most strict officials and he’s handed out the joint-highest number of bookings.

Leeds have been involved in one of Attwell’s four top-flight games, the referee taking charge of September's 1-1 draw at Brighton. That fixture passed without too much drama but Farke will have fresh memories of the last time his side faced Sunday’s hosts.

Attwell was in charge when Leeds lost 1-0 at home to Sunderland back in March, a game in which the Whites were denied a clear penalty. Luke O’Nien grabbed Pascal Struijk round the neck and pulled him to ground from a set-piece but shouts for a spot-kick were waved away.

That decision, and the call from VAR assistant Paul Tierney not to recommend an on-field review, were later unanimously voted as incorrect by the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) panel. The panel noted that Sunderland skipper O'Nien is 'not looking at the ball, places his arms around the neck of Struijk in a clear non-footballing action and stops the Leeds United attacker from progressing towards goal.’

Farke was far from happy with the decision, which he labelled ‘crazy’, and Leeds' anger was compounded when Attwell awarded Sunderland a penalty - correctly, this time - for a handball by Ethan Ampadu. Habib Diarra scored from 12 yards to give the Black Cats a crucial win which Leeds will hope to avenge on Sunday.