SOME Newcastle fans are raging at the referee appointment for their crunch clash with Brighton.
The soaring Magpies welcome fellow highfliers Brighton to St James’ Park on Thursday night for a crucial match in their bid for Champions League football.
Newcastle will welcome Brighton to St James’ Park on Thursday nightREX
AFPRobert Jones will officiate the match – although some Magpies fans have concerns[/caption]
The Premier League announced on Monday that referee Robert Jones will officiate the must-win clash for Eddie Howe‘s troops.
And the appointment of the Merseysider got some of the Toon Army‘s tongues wagging as Liverpool are still breathing down their necks in fifth place.
One tweeted: “Ridiculous.”
Another asked: “Seriously?? How can this be allowed??”
And another asked: “How this is even possible?”
And another said: “He is such a poor referee too.”
One of the St James’ Park faithful, however, was quick to point out the team’s winning record in games that Jones has officiated.
They tweeted: “Both games he’s refereed against us we’ve won so I Don’t see the issue.”
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Another defended Jones’ honour, by saying: “He’s a class guy.
“Don’t question integrity or imply bias on someone you don’t know.”
Newcastle fans’ concerns over 36-year-old Jones have zero merit.
The Premier League extensively vet officials before each match to make sure they don’t take charge of teams they support or their rivals.
That scrutiny is also applied when they could take charge of matches that potentially can have a positive impact on the teams they support.
Jones is a relative newcomer to the refereeing circuit having become an EFL official in the 2016/17 season.
The majority of his assignments this season have come in the Premier League, although he has also officiated Championship, FA Cup and Carabao Cup games.
Newcastle go into the game with Brighton just one point ahead of Liverpool – but have played a game less.
After Brighton, Newcastle take on Leicester and Chelsea while Liverpool face Southampton and Leicester in their final two games.