After all the furore surrounding Kevin Friend in the Premier League, we’re not quite sure how this was allowed to happen.
Leicester fan Friend had been scheduled to referee Tottenham’s game against Stoke, but was reassigned amid (unfounded) fears his officiating could be affected by his fandom.
But taking charge of your favourite team’s title rivals is slightly different from running the line in a game involving the team you *actually* support.
Yet, for a while, referee’s assistant James Bell was poised to do just that.
Sheffield Wednesday fan Bell was poised to run the line for the Owls’ crucial Championship match against Cardiff City – a game in which the Yorkshire side need to avoid defeat to guarantee a place in the play-offs.
Unsurprisingly, Bluebirds supporters were none too happy with the appointment once they found out his allegiances, forcing the Football League to take action.
They are joking surely. You can't have a linesman from Sheffield as a match official for Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff. WTF No.
— Jeff Parker 🏴 (@Jeffrey__Parker) April 26, 2016
A spokesperson for the Professional Game Match Officials Board told WalesOnline that a “software error” was to blame for the appointment.
Bell will no longer be involved in the match, which takes place at Hillsborough on Saturday.
