Ex-Premier League referee suggests major boost as Arsenal v Tottenham news confirmed
Referee Jarred Gillett has been handed a major boost ahead of the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham on Saturday (1 October), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee delivered his verdict after Gillett was nominated to be a Fifa official.
Gillett was an international referee while working in Australia but he moved to England at the beginning of the 2019-20 season and was promoted to the Premier League last term.
The Premier League confirmed on Monday (26 September) that he will be the VAR operator when Tottenham travel to Arsenal for the north London derby.
Anthony Taylor will be the man in the middle at the Emirates with Gary Beswick and Lee Betts as his assistants.
“It is the time of the year when the FA nominate referees for the Fifa badge,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“There are four referees who have been nominated. John Brooks, Jarred Gillett, who was a Fifa referee (while in Australia) and Rob Jones while Emily Heaslip has been nominated in the women’s games.
“What it shows to me is that you don’t have to have many games on the Premier League to be nominated to Fifa.
“Brooks and Jones have not had a great many games.
“In my era, you had to work for three seasons and be in the top five to be even nominated but this is how it now works.”
Gillett was the VAR operator when West Ham’s controversial equaliser against Chelsea earlier this month (3 September) was ruled out for a foul by Jarrod Bowen on Edouard Mendy.
The Australian has taken charge of four Premier League games this season, including Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham at the end of August.
In other news, an expert has revealed Tottenham have been handed a major blow ahead of their showdown with Arsenal.