After three years of Premier League service, Australian referee Jarred Gillett has been barred from officiating Liverpool matches for one and only reason.
Jarred Gillet has been a referee in the Premier League since 2019 (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Even though Premier League referee Jarred Gillett has officiated a match at Anfield, he is prohibited from officiating Liverpool games.
The 37-year-old chose to move to England in 2019 to start officiating in the Premier League and the EFL after nine years as a successful referee in the A-League.
The Australian referee, who won five A-League Referee of the Year awards, had a dream assignment at Anfield when he first arrived in England five years ago. He officiated a 3-2 victory by the Liverpool Legends over the AC Milan Legends.
That day, Gillett, a Liverpool supporter, undoubtedly fulfilled a childhood fantasy as he witnessed former Reds captain Steven Gerrard defeat the Italian heavyweights with a late goal.
Unfortunately for Gillett, his loyalty to the Merseyside club meant that was the last time he would take on the role of an official at Anfield in any capacity.
Although he has been a frequent official in the English top division for the past five years, working a match at Anfield has eluded him and will undoubtedly continue to do so throughout his career as a referee.
After the Liverpool Legends game, Gillett’s devotion to the Reds was made clear by Fox Sports pundit Brenton Speed, who also gave an explanation of why it would be his final appearance at Anfield.
Speed stated on the Fox Football Podcast, “He told me about this a couple of months ago, said keep it under your hat because I’m not sure whether I’ll get the appointment.”
“He had to fill out a form when he agreed to join the referees’ board over there, and you have to fill in the team you supported as a boy/man, and he said it was Liverpool. That will be the last game he ever officiates at Anfield.” You’re thus banned from all of their games, whether they’re played at home or away.”
