Confirmed Match Officials: Manchester City vs Leicester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to Premier League action at the Etihad Stadium this week for the first time in over a fortnight following the March international break.

It was a return full of joy for Pep Guardiola and his players in competitive club action at the weekend as the FA Cup quarter-final trip to Bournemouth brought about winning ways and a one-way ticket to Wembley Stadium in the last-four of the competition.

A second-half comeback win for the Blues inspired by Nico O’Reilly’s half-time substitution saw Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush notch in front of goal and tee-up a semi-final meeting with Nottingham Forest under the famous arch later this month.

However, amid the confidence-inducing victory has also come further disappointment as Manchester City’s latest injury blow concerned their 34-goal contributing striker, Erling Haaland.

Having sustained an ankle injury in the second-half of the weekend’s win over Bournemouth, the club and Pep Guardiola have since revealed a lay-off of up to seven weeks – ruling Haaland out for the majority of the business end of the campaign.

Now, in the first of those Haaland-less contests and ahead of the meeting between Manchester City and Leicester City, the Premier League have announced the list of match officials to oversee proceedings at the Etihad Stadium!

Match Referee

Operating as the lead on-field match referee for the meeting between Manchester City and Leicester City this weekend will be the experienced official Darren England, the Premier League have announced.

The Doncaster-born official will be taking charge of his 19th contest of the ongoing season, having recorded appearances in the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

Across those outings thus far, Darren England has issued a total of 78 yellow cards, with a further four dismissals via red cards or second cautions, as well as awarding three penalty kicks in the process.

When it comes to Manchester City in particular, the Etihad club have been officiated by England in eight matches across competitions, winning all eight of those fixtures and seeing 10 yellow cards handed out alongside one red card and five penalties awarded.

Manchester City have not been officiated by Darren England since April 2024 en route to a fourth consecutive Premier League title, when they defeated Aston Villa 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Assistant Referees

Accompanying Darren England on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night will be the Premier League appointed pairing of assistant referees in Gary Beswick and Natalie Aspinall, the division has confirmed.

Video Assistant Referees

Overseeing the fixture from the VAR Hub at Stockley Park this week will be Video Assistant Referee, James Bell alongside the game’s Assistant Video Assistant Referee, Marc Perry – as per the Premier League.

Fourth Official

Standing between the two dugouts and overseeing matters between Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Leicester City’s Ruud van Nistelrooy will be the game’s appointed fourth official, Dean Whitestone.