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Leeds United take on Sunderland this Sunday hoping for a third win of the Premier League season. The Black Cats are struggling at the bottom of the league.
Last season’s two surviving promoted clubs have had contrasting starts to this Premier League season. Neutrals can’t hide their admiration for Daniel Farke’s Leeds, but it’s getting dark for Sunderland at the moment.
The Black Cats are not helped by injuries and a tiring Europa League schedule. Currently, they sit rock bottom of the division after seven league games.
Premier League confirm Stuart Attwell as referee for Sunderland v Leeds United
It’s not often I pay that much attention at the moment to the specific referee appointed for our Premier League fixtures.
The reason being that you’re never going to get consistency regardless. So, there’s no point giving too much energy to it.
However, Stuart Attwell has been confirmed by the Premier League to take charge of our clash at the Stadium of Light on Sunday:
Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Nick Hopton. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Craig Pawson. Assistant VAR: Mat Wilkes.
Attwell has taken charge of 26 Leeds fixtures during his career. In which, we’ve won 12, drawn four, and lost 10. He’s given two red cards against United in that time, both for two yellows: Luis Sinisterra vs Aston Villa in 2022, and Liam Cooper vs Sutton United in 2017.
What Daniel Farke had to say about Stuart Attwell after Leeds United, Sunderland disaster
Incidentally, Attwell was in charge last time we faced the Black Cats.
That was a 1-0 defeat at Elland Road as Habib Diarra’s penalty settled matters, but Attwell was at the thick of controversy for inexplicably missing one of the most blatant penalties you’ll ever see.
Luke O’Nien strangled Pascal Struijk to the ground from a corner, grappling the Leeds defender’s neck, and Attwell was unmoved, while VAR didn’t intervene either.
It was a vital result for Sunderland, as it turned out. Had Leeds equalised and taken two points from Sunderland’s eventual tally, they wouldn’t have qualified for Europe.
“It’s not even a question,” Farke said after that game to the BBC. “What was VAR doing?
“It’s tough to understand how this is not checked. If the referee watched it back he would say all day long it’s a penalty. It’s more for VAR, it’s difficult for the referee to see.”
Farke did give a somewhat tame defence for Attwell’s involvement. However, he won’t be happy to relive what was a horrific refereeing performance.
