Anthony Taylor: I will DEAL with Man City and send Pep Guardiola PACKING on Sunday –  Anthony Taylor will referee the Manchester derby on Sunday, with John Brooks on VAR. ❗️

Anthony Taylor: I will DEAL with Man City and send Pep Guardiola PACKING on Sunday –  Anthony Taylor will referee the Manchester derby on Sunday, with John Brooks on VAR. ❗️

 

 

Here’s a richer, more detailed version of your announcement:

 

 

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Match Officials for This Sunday’s Manchester Derby:

 

Referee: Anthony Taylor

 

VAR: John Brooks

 

Assistant Referees: Simon Bennett & Dan Robathan

 

Fourth Official: Tony Harrington

 

Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Paul Tierney

 

Assistant VAR: Tim Wood

 

 

 

 

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About the Officials:

 

Anthony Taylor

 

Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester (October 20, 1978), Taylor has been a Premier League referee since 2010 and a FIFA-listed official since 2013.

 

He’s officiated high-profile matches including FA Cup finals, the UEFA Europa League final (2023), and international fixtures—including Euro and World Cup games.

 

 

 

John Brooks

 

A Premier League and UEFA referee since 2021, Brooks has steadily risen through the ranks. He recently earned a promotion to UEFA’s first category of referees for the 2024–25 season.

 

 

 

Season Stats & Past Performance

 

This season, John Brooks has overseen 14 Premier League matches, three Europa League games, and eight other domestic fixtures, plus one Nations League encounter. Across all competitions, he has issued 126 yellow cards—but no red cards. He’s also awarded eight penalties (three in the Premier League).

 

 

 

 

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Context & Significance:

 

This fixture underscores the trust placed in Taylor and Brooks by the officiating body—Taylor for reflecting experience and consistency in high-stakes matches, and Brooks for his growing role in officiating important games domestically and in Europe.

 

The inclusion of Paul Tierney and Tim Wood in VAR roles rounds out a seasoned officiating team—positioned to manage what is expected to be a heated and closely watched derby.

 

 

 

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Sample Announcement:

 

Match Officials Announced for Sunday’s Manchester Derby

 

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Assistant Referees: Simon Bennett & Dan Robathan

Fourth Official: Tony Harrington

VAR: John Brooks

Assistant VAR: Tim Wood

Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Paul Tierney

 

Anthony Taylor—one of England’s most experienced officials and a regular in European finals—will take charge of the derby, supported by John Brooks, threading a fine performance of fairness and decisiveness both on the pitch and in VAR.

 

 

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