• Kavanagh was born five miles from the Etihad but does not support either team
  • Referees are not allowed to officiate in matches involving their side or rivals
  • A ref had metal plates after a broken jaw and feared being followed home – IAKO

Richard Keys has hit out at the PGMOL’s decision to appoint Chris Kavanagh to referee Manchester City’s crunch clash with Liverpool on Saturday.

Kavanagh has been chosen to officiate one of the biggest games of the Premier League season despite being born in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, which is just five miles from the Etihad Stadium.

While Premier League officials are not allowed to referee the team they support – or any of their close rivals – Kavanagh’s appointment has been questioned by Liverpool fans.

Keys, 66, added to the criticism on Tuesday as he posted a tweet asking why Kavanagh had been selected for the huge match at the Etihad.

‘Not for a moment do I think Chris Kavanagh will be anything other than professional at City but what if?’ Keys wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

Some Liverpool fans are unhappy that Chris Kavanagh, from Greater Manchester, has been selected to referee their top-of-the-table clash with rivals Man City on Saturday

Some Liverpool fans are unhappy that Chris Kavanagh, from Greater Manchester, has been selected to referee their top-of-the-table clash with rivals Man City on Saturday

One fan even pointed out how close Kavanagh was born to the Etihad Stadium, with Ashton-under-Lyne  around five miles away from Man City's ground

One fan even pointed out how close Kavanagh was born to the Etihad Stadium, with Ashton-under-Lyne  around five miles away from Man City’s ground 

Richard Keys questioned the decision to appoint Kavanagh for Saturday's huge lunchtime game

Richard Keys questioned the decision to appoint Kavanagh for Saturday’s huge lunchtime game

‘What if something goes wrong? And in a season like this who’d bet against it? Why put him under the added pressure? Are there no other refs?’

It came after a user on Reddit posted a map asking for directions from Ashton-under-Lyne to the Etihad Stadium.

They titled the post ‘Man City v Liverpool ref born this close to City ground’ and asked: ‘How is this allowed?’

It sparked a reaction from Liverpool fans on social media. ‘Chris Kavanagh, from Manchester, will referee our game against City. And Noel Gallagher will be in charge of VAR,’ one said.

Another wrote: ‘Chris Kavanagh from Greater Manchester. Unbelievable.’

But the criticism was not universal, with one fan pointing out the Etihad was not even built when Kavanagh was born, while others said Liverpool supporters were ‘getting excuses in early’.

Liverpool also have a good record in games which Kavanagh has taken charge of, winning 13 out of a possible 15 matches. 

The PGMOL has strict rules forbidding officials to be involved in games including their own team or their local rivals. Unlike other top-level referees, it is not known who Kavanagh supports.

Michael Oliver is a Newcastle fan and therefore cannot officiate in matches involving the Magpies or their close neighbours Sunderland.

beIN Sports presenter Keys, 66, has been a frequent critic of referees and the PGMOL

beIN Sports presenter Keys, 66, has been a frequent critic of referees and the PGMOL 

Liverpool have a good record in games in which Kavanagh has taken charge, winning 13 out of 15 matches

Liverpool have a good record in games in which Kavanagh has taken charge, winning 13 out of 15 matches

‘I never referee Newcastle games. We have to declare if we have an allegiance to any club or if a family member works at a club,’ Oliver told Mail Sport in 2021.

‘You can’t do any match involving that team and I can’t do Sunderland, either, for obvious reasons.

‘Because Newcastle are invariably involved in a relegation battle, when you get to March or April, it means I can’t referee anyone around them towards the bottom three.

‘If Newcastle needed a point to survive and the team they were fighting to get above was say Villa, I couldn’t referee Villa’s game either. I wouldn’t want to. It’s not worth the hassle.’

Jurgen Klopp’s side could go top of the table if they beat the reigning Premier League champions on Saturday lunchtime. The game was initially due to kick-off at 5:30pm before being moved forward amid concerns over fan trouble.

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Post source: Daily mail

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