After sealing a place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, Manchester City now turn their attentions to another semi-final as the Blues travel to Wembley to face Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United in the FA Cup. Kick-off in the capital will take place at 16:30 (BST) on Saturday, 22 April, with the game to be televised on ITV in the UK. Stuart Attwell has been chosen by the FA as the referee.
Stuart Attwell
40-year-old Attwell has taken charge of 21 Premier League matches so far this season, yet this will be his first in the Emirates FA Cup. The Warwickshire referee averages 3.39 yellow cards per game in domestic competitions this season but with an average of just 0.13 penalties and red cards.
From a City perspective, the last time he took charge of a match involving the Premier League champions was a rather notable one. Attwell was the referee who allowed Bruno Fernandes’ controversial equaliser in the club’s 2-1 derby defeat at Old Trafford in January, where Marcus Rashford was adjudged to not be interfering with play.
Last season, meanwhile, he oversaw three wins for Pep Guardiola’s side: two home victories over Everton and Newcastle United and a memorable 2-1 New Year’s Day win at the Emirates over Arsenal.
His last Wembley appearance was the 2022 Carabao Cup final, where he awarded four yellow cards in a dull affair that was won by Liverpool on penalties.
Attwell’s most recent FA Cup match involving City came in 2021, where the Blues left it late to avoid upset at Cheltenham; he also gave four bookings that day.
Full Appointments
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Lee Betts & Darren Cann
Fourth Official: Jarred Gillett
VAR: Tony Harrington
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis
Written by: @AdamHowarthSJ
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