Referee for Arsenal vs Man Utd clash is 'banned' from officiating two teams for obvious reasonOne of the Premier League's most experienced referees has been placed in charge of Arsenal vs Manchester United at the EmiratesView 2 Images Craig Pawson will be the man in the middle for Arsenal vs Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)The referee for the Premier League showdown between Arsenal and Manchester United is barred from officiating matches involving two clubs. ‌The 46-year-old has been taking charge of Premier League matches since 2013. ‌But there is no chance he will ever officiate matches involving one team in particular - his beloved Sheffield United. Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook pageThe Blades' last Premier League campaign was 2023/24 when they were relegated with just 16 points. Pawson has taken charge of 15 games this season: 12 in the Premier League, two in the Carabao Cup and one in the Championship.

Source: Daily Mirror January 25, 2026 13:25 UTC