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Craig Pawson

Craig Pawson (born 2 March 1979) is an English professional football referee based in , known for officiating matches in the and international competitions. Born in , Pawson began his refereeing career in 1993, progressing through the Football League ranks before making his debut on 2 March 2013—the same year he was promoted to the of elite referees managed by the (PGMOL). In 2015, he was added to the , a position he held until 2024, enabling him to handle events including the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, as well as World Cup qualifiers. Over his career, Pawson has refereed more than 500 professional matches, averaging 3.32 yellow cards and maintaining a reputation for strict and consistent rule enforcement. He has overseen numerous high-profile fixtures, such as derbies and title-deciding games, though his decisions have occasionally drawn criticism and scrutiny from clubs and fans for perceived inconsistencies. As of the 2025/26 season, he continues to be a key figure in English top-flight officiating, with recent assignments including clashes like Aston Villa vs. Newcastle United.

Early life

Upbringing in Sheffield

Craig Pawson was born on 2 March 1979 in , , . He was raised in the city, immersing himself in its vibrant football-centric environment from an early age, where the sport's deep-rooted presence in local communities fostered a strong personal interest. Pawson's upbringing in solidified his ties to the region, with the city's intense rivalry between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday shaping the cultural backdrop of his youth. He remains affiliated with the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association, reflecting his enduring regional roots. As a lifelong Sheffield resident, Pawson developed a personal allegiance to Sheffield United, a connection that underscores his deep-seated bond with the area's football heritage. This background in a football-passionate locale laid the foundation for his ongoing association with .

Introduction to refereeing

Craig Pawson began his refereeing career in 1993 at the age of 14. Growing up in , a city with a strong football tradition, Pawson entered the officiating world through local opportunities provided by the Sheffield & Hallamshire , where he is registered as a . His early experiences involved officiating in youth and amateur leagues in the region, building foundational skills in match control and rule application. Pawson obtained his initial referee qualifications through standard Football Association courses, progressing from local matches to more structured roles. This period laid the groundwork for his later appointments in the starting in 2008.

Domestic refereeing career

Football League years

Craig Pawson began his involvement with the Football League as an assistant referee in the mid-2000s, supporting officiating in lower-tier English football matches and building foundational professional experience. In 2008, Pawson was added to the of referees by the (PGMOL), marking his promotion to full status and enabling him to take charge of games in and League Two. Over the following years, he officiated over 150 fixtures in these divisions, honing his decision-making under the pressures of competitive league play, with early appointments including matches such as versus Town on 1 November 2008 and Tranmere Rovers versus on 15 November 2008. Pawson's progression continued into higher divisions, with regular appearances across the Football League during the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons, where he refereed multiple games, including Leicester City versus United on 23 April 2012 (2011–12 season) and Wanderers versus on 24 August 2012. A highlight of this period was his appointment to the 2012 League Two play-off final at , where he oversaw Crewe Alexandra's 2–0 victory over Cheltenham Town, securing promotion for Crewe with goals from and . This match represented his first major final and underscored his growing reputation within domestic refereeing circles.

Premier League tenure

Craig Pawson was promoted to the 's of referees in March 2013, marking his transition to officiating in England's top flight after gaining experience in the Football League. His debut match occurred on 2 March 2013, when he refereed Swansea City against Newcastle United at the Liberty Stadium, a game that ended in a 1–0 victory for the hosts. Prior to taking full charge of top-flight fixtures, Pawson served as fourth official in several high-profile domestic finals, including the 2014 FA Cup semi-final between Athletic and , the where defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–0, and the in which beat Aston Villa 4–0. By November 2025, Pawson had officiated over 300 matches, demonstrating his consistent involvement in major fixtures and contributing to his reputation as a reliable elite-level official. In recent years, including up to 2025, Pawson has continued active domestic assignments beyond the , such as refereeing semi-finals like versus Hotspur on 6 February 2025 and occasional games, reflecting the rotational nature of referee duties across English football's top tiers.

International refereeing career

FIFA international listing

Craig Pawson was added to the in 2015 following his nomination by and successful completion of and eligibility requirements, including passing a FIFA-approved test, examination, and demonstration of high-level officiating proficiency in domestic competitions. His prior experience as a referee since 2013 served as a key prerequisite for this international recognition. Pawson maintained his FIFA listing annually from 2015 through 2024, undergoing regular performance evaluations, fitness assessments, and medical checks as mandated by to ensure ongoing suitability for duty. To prepare for international assignments, Pawson participated in UEFA-organized programs, including introductory courses for newly listed referees that emphasized interpretation, decision-making, and tactical understanding of competitions. Shortly after his 2015 listing, Pawson received his initial assignments in , marking the start of his international exposure in club qualifiers.

Major international appointments

Pawson's international career featured prominent assignments in , beginning shortly after his 2015 FIFA listing. He officiated in the , primarily during qualifying stages and occasionally in group phases, showcasing his handling of high-stakes European fixtures. A notable example was the third qualifying round match on 15 August 2023, where he refereed Maccabi Haifa's 3-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava at , managing a competitive atmosphere with disciplined card issuance. His Champions League duties from 2016 to 2024 included supporting roles in group stage games, such as serving as fourth official for Salzburg's 0-4 defeat to on 1 October 2024. In the UEFA Europa League, Pawson received consistent group stage and knockout appointments, reflecting UEFA's trust in his performance across nearly a decade. He took charge of Panathinaikos' 2-0 win against Villarreal on 21 September 2023 in the league phase, overseeing a tactical contest with minimal disruptions. Another highlight was the group stage clash on 28 November 2024, where FC Midtjylland fell 1-2 to Eintracht Frankfurt, with Pawson maintaining control amid intense play. His involvement extended to the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout rounds, including the 2023/24 play-off first leg between Union Saint-Gilloise and Eintracht Frankfurt, which ended 2-2 on 15 February 2024. Pawson also officiated in major national team competitions, including matches and qualifiers for the and . Examples include World Cup qualifiers such as vs. Belarus (2016) and vs. (2021), as well as fixtures like Kazakhstan's 0-1 loss to on 13 October 2024. Over his international tenure ending in December 2024, these appointments underscored his versatility in elite , with reflections on the experience highlighting the progression from qualifiers to prominent group and playoff games.

Controversies and incidents

High-profile domestic decisions

One of the most notable controversies in Craig Pawson's domestic refereeing career occurred during the 2019 play-off semi-final first leg between County and on May 11, 2019, at . With the score at 0-1 to , Pawson initially awarded a penalty in the 77th minute after ' Jack Harrison was deemed to have fouled 's in the penalty area. However, following a consultation with assistant referee Eddie Smart, Pawson reversed the decision, awarding a free-kick instead, which incensed players and manager . The reversal drew widespread criticism from , who viewed it as a clear error, though no formal review of the refereeing was initiated beyond standard post-match assessments. In October 2022, Pawson faced significant backlash during Manchester United's 0-0 Premier League draw against Newcastle United on October 16 at Old Trafford. A key incident involved Cristiano Ronaldo intercepting a stationary ball during a Newcastle free-kick setup in the second half, after Fabian Schär appeared to touch it back to goalkeeper Nick Pope; Pawson ruled the free-kick had not been taken and disallowed Ronaldo's subsequent goal, booking him for unsporting behavior. This decision prompted a mass confrontation as most of United's outfield players surrounded Pawson, leading to an FA charge against Manchester United for failing to control their players. Additionally, Pawson denied penalty appeals from both teams, including a late United claim against Newcastle's Kieran Trippier, which former referee Keith Hackett later described as a clear error. The handling of the match resulted in Pawson's temporary demotion to EFL Championship fixtures the following weekend, a rare PGMOL intervention signaling concerns over his performance. More recently, on April 27, 2024, Pawson officiated Aston Villa's 2-2 draw with at , where a stoppage-time goal was controversially disallowed. Axel headed in what would have been a winner in the 95th minute, but after a review prompted by Michael , Pawson ruled it out for a foul by Nicolas on Ezri during the buildup, with Jackson's arm deemed to have impeded the defender. players, including manager Mauricio , expressed fury over the decision, arguing it was overly punitive and soft, especially as it denied them a crucial victory in their push for European qualification. Former referee Mark criticized Pawson for not initially spotting the incident and relying heavily on , highlighting inconsistencies in foul interpretations. On November 8, 2025, Pawson refereed 's home match against at the , which ended in a 1-1 draw and sparked significant controversy. Key incidents included Pawson's failure to caution 's for a blatant foul on 's early in the game, a controversial free-kick awarded to that led to their equalizing goal, and several other decisions criticized as "lethargic" by former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett. fans and players expressed frustration over the officiating, with Hackett stating Pawson was "completely at fault" for missing the booking opportunity. Since the introduction of in the for the 2019-20 season, Pawson's decisions have often been scrutinized in high-stakes matches, revealing patterns of reliance on technology that sometimes lead to prolonged reviews and fan dissatisfaction. For instance, his on-field calls have been overturned or amended in key games, such as the 2022 Manchester United incident and the 2024 disallowance, where VAR interventions altered match outcomes amid debates over subjective elements like fouls and handballs. These episodes underscore a broader trend in Pawson's VAR-era officiating, where initial judgments are frequently adjusted post-review, contributing to perceptions of inconsistency despite his extensive experience in over 300 matches since 2013.

Professional demotions and retirement

In October 2022, following his officiating of the match between Manchester United and Newcastle United on October 16, Pawson was temporarily assigned to referee in the , taking charge of Blackburn Rovers versus on October 18. This move by the (PGMOL) came amid scrutiny over several decisions in the fixture, though Pawson soon returned to top-flight duties. Pawson's international standing faced further challenges in June 2024 when demoted him from the First Category to the Second Category of its elite referees list, effective July 1, following a controversial 2023–24 season that included high-profile errors such as a disallowed goal in a match involving . This relegation removed him from consideration for top-tier European competitions like the knockout stages, with John Brooks promoted in his place on the elite list. By December 2024, Pawson stepped down from the after a decade of service, with the English confirming he would not appear on the 2025 list, replaced by Sam Barrott. His final international appointment was earlier that month, concluding a career that spanned major tournaments including the and . In a 2025 interview, Pawson reflected on ending his on-field after over 10 years, highlighting memorable appointments in the and World Cup qualifiers while expressing pride in his contributions to global refereeing standards.

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