England's former top referee Keith Hackett has criticised the decision to put Wythenshawe-based Anthony Taylor in charge of next Monday night's clash between Liverpool and Manchester United.

A teenager from Texas who contracted a brain-eating disease after swimming in a lake about 110km north of Houston has died .

The former World Cup final whistler has been handed a new role as performance director for England’s professional referees.

Referees chiefs are insistent match officials’ standards have never been so good despite stinging criticism from the former head of Professional Games Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL).

"I share the view of one former top referee that the current group of professional referees is the worst that we have seen."

Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 1

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was “baffled” by the decision which handed Everton their opening goal in the 2-1 win at Goodison Park.

Everton 0 Swansea 0

“I’m going to meet him face-to-face on Friday, I’m just going to give him some concerns I’ve had.”

Swansea defender Federico Fernandez has had his red card against Liverpool in midweek rescinded.

Mario Balotelli had provided an answer to his critics although he was still involved in some controversial-looking incidents during Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 Capital One Cup victory over Swansea at Anfield.

Swansea boss Garry Monk could find himself in trouble with the Football Association after launching an angry tirade against Victor Moses and referee Michael Oliver following yesterday’s 2-1 loss at Stoke.

Stoke 2 Swansea 1

Referees in Premier League matches next season will use the vanishing spray that came to prominence in the recent World Cup in Brazil, it was announced yesterday.

Referees in Premier League matches next season will use the vanishing spray that came to prominence in the recent World Cup in Brazil, it has been announced.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been fined after his sarcastic appraisal of officials following the loss to Sunderland.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has denied a Football Association misconduct charge related to his post-match comments following the Premier League loss to Sunderland.

Chelsea midfielder Ramires will miss the Blues’ title run-in after accepting a four-match ban for violent conduct.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, his assistant Rui Faria and midfielder Ramires have been charged by the FA for their actions in last Saturday’s controversial loss to Sunderland.

Jose Mourinho refused to discuss difficult domestic issues on the eve of Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was in a curt mood on the eve of his team’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid and refused to discuss Saturday’s controversial Premier League loss to Sunderland.

Jose Mourinho made a sardonic speech against referee Mike Dean and refereeing chief Mike Riley after Chelsea were beaten by Sunderland thanks to a late controversial penalty.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho fired a thinly-veiled criticism at the officials after his unbeaten home record in the Barclays Premier League was ended by Sunderland.

Controversy surrounding referee Mark Clattenburg and Adam Lallana must not affect Southampton’s FA Cup clash with Burnley, according to assistant manager Jesus Perez.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers feels Reds striker Luis Suarez is an “easy target” for critics.

Brendan Rodgers insists his remarks about referee Lee Mason after Liverpool’s loss at Manchester City were not meant as an attack on the official’s integrity.

Sunderland's appeal against the red card shown to defender Wes Brown in Saturday's Barclays Premier League match at Stoke has been upheld, the Football Association has confirmed.

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet called for referees’ chief Mike Riley to apologise to him after the Black Cats were beaten 1-0 at Sunderland in controversial circumstances.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho wants to know if referees’ chief Mike Riley plans to make a habit of making conciliatory phone calls to Premier League managers aggrieved by decisions of his officials.

Referees’ chief Mike Riley understands why Andre Marriner awarded a highly contentious penalty to Chelsea against West Brom earlier this month but insisted only Blues midfielder Ramires could say whether he was guilty of tricking the official into giving it.

Arsene Wenger has welcomed Alex Ferguson’s controversial autobiography but played down the Manchester United manager’s recollection of ’Pizzagate’ as nothing more than “a little unrest in the corridor” at Old Trafford.

Chelsea 4 Cardiff 1

Former referee Mark Halsey has been berated by Graham Poll for “betraying” his fellow officials — and accused of wearing a Bolton kit with his own squad number to training sessions.

Former referee Mark Halsey has been berated by Graham Poll for “betraying” his fellow officials – and accused of wearing a Bolton kit with his own squad number to training sessions.

Andre Villas-Boas insists Gareth Bale is not a diver and has revealed the Tottenham winger is becoming increasingly frustrated at claims he goes to ground too easily.

Mark Clattenburg will be back in action tonight after Chelsea, the Premier League and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited issued a joint statement admitting regrets over the way his recent ordeal was handled and calling for a line to be drawn under the affair.

Chelsea made a number of errors of judgment in their complaint against Mark Clattenburg, the referees’ union Prospect claimed today as they stepped up calls for the club to apologise to the match official.

Police have dropped an investigation into football referee Mark Clattenburg’s alleged use of inappropriate language during a match after no victim came forward.

Police have dropped an investigation into football referee Mark Clattenburg’s alleged use of inappropriate language during a match after no victim came forward.

Mark Clattenburg should hear by the end of the week whether he is to face any action following Chelsea's allegation that he used inappropriate language to midfielder John Obi Mikel.

John Terry yesterday escaped a lengthy injury lay-off after Chelsea confirmed he suffered “no significant damage” to knee ligaments in the Premier League draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

Mark Clattenburg will not referee a match for a second weekend running as he prepares to answer accusations from Chelsea.

Mark Clattenburg will not referee a match for a second weekend running as he prepares to answer accusations from Chelsea.