It has been confirmed who will officiate Newcastle United’s Premier League match versus Tottenham Hotspur.
The game at St. James’ Park will be officiated by Robert Jones, who will have the support of Ian Hussin, Nick Greenhalgh, and fourth official Darren Bond. Jones officiated his final game for Newcastle, a 3-2 loss at Manchester United in the season’s penultimate round in 2023–2024.
Controversy arose about Jones’ selection to officiate a Newcastle game in the penultimate game of the 2022–2023 season. The Merseyside-based referee was selected to officiate Newcastle’s match versus Brighton & Hove Albion at St. James’ Park because The Magpies are chasing Champions League football ahead of Liverpool.
Although Newcastle supporters expressed their disapproval with the choice on social media, Eddie Howe’s team went on to win the game 4-1 and earn a Champions League spot. Jones officiated Newcastle’s 4-3 victory over West Ham United, 1-0 victory over Manchester United, and 1-0 loss against Manchester City in addition to the setback at Old Trafford.
In Jones’s last visit to St. James’ Park, a victory over West Ham, he sent Anthony Gordon off and gave the home team two penalties, which Alexander Isak converted. Controversially, West Ham was also given a goal even though Fabian Schar was out due to a head injury.
VAR has caused controversy in Newcastle’s first two Premier League games; Schar was sent off against Southampton, and AFC Bournemouth was denied a stoppage-time winner. Natalie Aspinall will support Stuart Attwell, who will be in charge of VAR for the game.
Both Newcastle and Spurs have won four of their last two games going into their encounter on Sunday. The Magpies defeated Spurs 6-1 the previous season and 4-0 at St. James’ Park in April.
