FK TSC Bačka Topola v West Ham United
UEFA Europa League Group A, TSC Arena, Thursday 30 November 2023, 6.45pm CET (5.45pm GMT)
Referee: Allard Lindhout (NED)
Assistant Referees: Rogier Honig (NED) & Patrick Inia (NED)
Fourth Official: Jannick Van Der Laan (NED)
VAR: Clay Ruperti (NED)
Assistant VAR: Edwin Van De Graaf (NED)
Dutch official Allard Lindhout will be the man in the middle for West Ham United’s trip to face FK TSC in the UEFA Europa League group stages.
Lindhout is a 36-year-old referee who regularly officiates in the Eredivisie, having made his first outing as an official in the Dutch top division in 2015.
One of the Netherlands’ most promising officials, Lindhout took charge of the Johan Cruyff Shield earlier this season, in which PSV Eindhoven secured a 1-0 win over Feyenoord, and has previously refereed two play-off matches to determine promotion or relegation to the Eredivisie, most recently Almere City's 2-1 away win over FC Emmen in the second leg of their final last season.
Rogier Honig and Patrick Inia will serve as the assistant referees on Thursday. Both are highly experienced linesman, having worked in the Eredisivise since 2016 and 2018, respectively,
Both Honig and Inia also worked with Lindhout in another UEFA Europa League Group A match, officiating SC Freiburg’s 3-2 win away at Olympiacos in September.
Fourth official duties will be undertaken by 33-year-old Clay Ruperti. A regular referee in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie – the Dutch second division – Ruperti also took charge of the 2014/15 Final Topklasse, which saw FC Lienden claim a 1-0 win over Kozakken Boys.
West Ham United v Crystal Palace
Premier League, London Stadium, Sunday 3 December 2023, 2pm GMT
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant Referees: Stuart Burt & Dan Cook
Fourth Official: Darren Bond
VAR: Peter Bankes
Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis
Michael Oliver has been named the referee for Sunday’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace at London Stadium.
Born in Ashington, Northumberland, Oliver was introduced to refereeing by his father, Clive, at the age of 14 and became the youngest referee to officiate at Wembley Stadium when he refereed the 2007 Conference National play-off final. He had already become the youngest Football League assistant referee, youngest Football League referee, and would also become the youngest fourth official in the Premier League.
Oliver has refereed two FA Cup finals, the 2018 final between Chelsea and Manchester United and 2021 final between Chelsea and Leicester City, and also took charge of Liverpool and Manchester City's meeting in the Carabao Cup final in 2016 as well as the 2014 Community Shield between Manchester City and Arsenal.
Oliver, who also refereed three matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is taking charge of his first West Ham United match of the season. His last was the 2-0 loss away to Brentford in May 2023.
Oliver will be assisted by Stuart Burt and Dan Cook at London Stadium. Burt, like Oliver, got into refereeing through his father and also worked the 2022 FIFA World Cup alongside the official. He has run the line at ten Premier League matches so far this season.
Cook, meanwhile, has been a Premier League assistant referee since the 2015/16 season and has worked at eight top flight games so far this campaign. He has also worked across UEFA European competitions, including the Champions League, and in the Championship and League One play-offs.
Darren Bond will once again be involved in a West Ham United match, working as fourth official. Bond has regularly served leading the VAR team this campaign, and was the match official for Brentford’s 3-0 win at Fulham back in August.
