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If you’re a shameless Twitter addict like myself, then you may have seen the picture below doing the rounds earlier this year. It is part of the referee’s report for the game between Accrington Stanley and Bury, which was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch back in January.
No wonder the Accrington vs Bury game was off tonight... This is the form sent to @football_league from the officials pic.twitter.com/WcVs7CxWeZ
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 9, 2015
Which referee decided that that was an accurate representation of the pitch? His name is Tony Harrington, and he takes charge of Reading’s trip to Burnley later today. I’m not sure whether to laugh or be worried.
I’m hoping his art skills don’t reflect on his refereeing ability, but the Football League’s trust in him may have decreased as he has only taken charge of four games so far in 2015-16. His card total for the campaign to date is just 11 yellows and no reds, but in the last game he officiated between Fulham and Blackburn, he did give a penalty which Jordan Rhodes duly scored.
Harrington’s only previous fixture involving the Royals was our 0-0 draw at Leeds United almost exactly a year ago. Interestingly, in that game the Yorkshire official gave the joint most yellow cards he has ever given in a single Football League match – seven. The Reading players cautioned were Adam Federici, Alex Pearce, Michael Hector and Jordan Obita. An utterly pointless, but strangely fascinating fact. You can’t say I don’t treat you here on Ref-Watch!