Craig Pawson has been announced as the referee for the FA Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea next month.
The 43-year-old is among the strictest referees, giving the sixth-most fouls and yellow cards per match in the Premier League this campaign, and Reds supporters on Twitter are not that pleased by the appointment:
The guy hates Liverpool to death
— WYNE (@weinthaboss) April 21, 2022
🤦♂️oooh we don’t have a good record when this guy is a ref
— Foster Mbambo (@foster_mbambo) April 21, 2022
better than tierney
— mainul (@FactsUWontLike2) April 21, 2022
Jheez not good
— Strictly football (@onlyfooty22) April 21, 2022
At least not, Paul Tieny
— Walter Semagire (@WSemagire) April 21, 2022
Crying in 1 2 3
— 23 (@Cryptopainn) April 21, 2022
The fella who was gutted when City lost to Tottenham? Ohk then!
— Njabulo ⚪ (@Finidi_) April 21, 2022
Pawson has only taken charge of two Liverpool matches this season; both of which were pretty notable. He officiated the Reds’ 3-0 win over Leeds back in September when he sent off Pascal Struijk for his challenge on Harvey Elliott, which left the teenager with a dislocated ankle.
His other game was the 3-2 loss to West Ham; one of only two defeats that Liverpool have suffered in the Premier League this campaign. Manager Jurgen Klopp was not happy about Pawson’s performance in the match, stating that two key decisions went against his team.
He believed there was a foul on Alisson by Angelo Ogbonna for the Hammers’ first goal, while he was adamant that Aaron Cresswell should have been sent off for a high challenge on captain Jordan Henderson.