Why Manchester-Born Chris Kavanagh is Allowed to Referee Man City Games

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is shown a yellow card by referee Chris Kavanagh

Liverpool fans want answers from Pro Ref (the organisation previously known as the PGMOL) after Manchester-born referee Chris Kavanagh was allowed to take charge of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Man City.

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has criticised Kavanagh’s decision to send off Ryan Gravenberch after showing the Dutch midfielder two yellow cards.

Man City went on to score three goals in 13 minutes shortly after Gravenberch’s 62nd-minute dismissal.

“I think the first foul of Ryan is never a yellow card, never,” Iraola said after Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat. “These kinds of games, just a stomp on the big toe, or something minor. He doesn’t even call the foul straight away.

“He lets a bit go, I think Elliot Anderson does a couple of steps. He decides to go down. I don’t know why after he shows the yellow card, because it’s not a situation where it leaves an advantage.”

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher echoed similar thoughts on Sky Sports, commenting: “The first one is not a yellow card it was so harsh. The referee was far too quick to get the yellow card out. The first one is the same.”

Explained: Why Kavanagh Can Referee Man City Games
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk remonstrates with referee Chris Kavanagh after Ryan Gravenberch is shown a red card
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Frustrated in the aftermath of the defeat, Liverpool supporters are questioning why Kavanagh was allowed to take charge of the game against Man City when he’s from Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester.

Various Premier League match officials are barred from refereeing certain clubs due to a potential conflict of interest.

For example, Michael Oliver cannot referee either Newcastle United or Sunderland due to his personal allegiances towards the Magpies. Similarly, Australian match official Jarred Gillet can’t referee Everton or Liverpool because he grew up supporting the Reds.