Premier League confirm referee decision for huge Leeds United vs Manchester United clash

The Premier League have confirmed their latest round of referee appointments with Darren England to take charge of Leeds United vs Manchester United.

Leeds welcome their old rivals to Elland Road on Sunday looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season at Arsenal last weekend. The Whites produced an encouraging performance and went ahead in the 55th minute through James Justin but couldn’t hold onto their lead for long.

Just 15 minutes after Justin’s goal, Arsenal were ahead with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and substitute Bruno Guimaraes. Weekend opponents Manchester United also blew a lead to draw 1-1, albeit in much more concerning fashion against 10-man Tottenham Hotspur, before losing 2-0 in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Ahead of Sunday’s big meeting at Elland Road, the Premier League have confirmed the appointment of England as referee. He will be assisted by Scott Ledger and Matthew Wilkes with Andrew Kitchen as fourth official and familiar face Peter Bankes on VAR duties.

England is yet to take charge of a Leeds game this season, his last match involving the Whites being a brilliant 3-1 home win over Chelsea in December 2025. This campaign, he’s blown for 21 fouls and brandished 3.5 yellow cards per game on average, placing him about average in terms of leniency.

VAR official Bankes is a more familiar name among Leeds fans having been regularly involved last season. He was last in charge during the Whites’ frustrating 1-0 loss at home to Manchester City in February - a game after which manager Daniel Farke was shown a red card.

Farke was visibly frustrated with a number of decisions that day, compounded by Bankes’ decision to blow the full-time whistle seconds after the minimum six minutes added-time was played. Several City players were spoken to for time-wasting during that period and showed a yellow card.

When the full-time whistle sounded Farke congratulated then-City boss Pep Guardiola and then ran onto the pitch towards Bankes. But before he could even say anything, the referee brandished a red card and appeared to refuse to interact with the Leeds manager.

“I was obviously not happy with the added time and wanted to run over,” Farke said afterwards. “I wanted to be the first and not anyone else coming to speak about the handball or the Gruev situation, I wanted a quiet moment to ask why he didn't add at least 30 seconds if he gives a yellow for time wasting.

“I jogged over, there was not one bad word, I didn't swear at all, no flying arms, I was just jogging over and wanted to ask 'for what do you give the yellow card if you don't add any seconds.' I don't even finish 'for what,' he already has the red card in his hands.

"To embarrass me, to say to the world this guy is not worth talking to or looking at, then I was angry. But even then I didn't use one bad word, I didn't accuse him. You can see on the footage, I think his assistant would have defended his mate. They were there with sympathy and also shocked a red was shown. This is not how we should work with each other.”