The standard of enforcement in the Premier League has been the subject of much debate. Just last week, the impartiality of the VAR system was again in the spotlight during a match between Ham Forest and Ewarton, which we questioned and pointed out the potential for profit. It seems that PGMOL has not learned its lesson when it comes to handling the sensitive game of the North London Derby.
Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal this Sunday (28th) in what is undoubtedly one of the biggest battles in the Premier League, with PGMOL's latest announcement that Olivier will be in charge of the main refereeing duties, while the VAR refereeing duties will be in the hands of Australian Gillette. The multiple Australian Player of the Year certificate winning referee joins the Premier League in 2019 but his status has sparked a fresh furore.
Gillette has publicly stated that he supports Liverpool, which has landed him in a cloud of suspicion over a conflict of interest when it comes to enforcing Liverpool's match against Arsenal. And just last week, Gillette had controversially refused Xaviers' request for a 12-yard penalty in a game where he was the main referee, fueling public questions about him.
The appointment has undoubtedly stirred up widespread controversy, especially in the wake of the Luton fans' incident, which has raised questions about Gillette's ability to remain impartial. Arsenal had felt unjustly judged by Gillette in a 0-1 loss earlier in the season.
