West Ham United v Fulham
Premier League, London Stadium, Tuesday 14 January, 7.30pm GMT
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Darren Cann and Blake Antrobus
Fourth Official: Tom Nield
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Assistant VAR: Natalie Aspinall
Craig Pawson has been confirmed as the referee for West Ham United’s return to Premier League action, at home to Fulham on Tuesday evening.
One of the country’s most experienced officials, the 45-year-old has been a part of the Select Group of Referees since 2013 and has held the whistle 12 times in the Premier League so far this campaign, as well as in the UEFA Europa League, Champions League and Europa Conference League qualifying, the UEFA Nations League and EFL Championship.
He has previously taken charge of the 2017/18 EFL Cup and 2021/22 FA Cup finals, as well as two Community Shield clashes, in 2016 and 2022.
Pawson has refereed 24 fixtures involving the Hammers during his esteemed career, most recently the 2-0 away triumph at Newcastle in November 2024. He has served as the fourth official in three West Ham games this term, including at Nottingham Forest at the start of November.
Pawson will be assisted by Darren Cann and Blake Antrobus at London Stadium.
A former young professional with Crystal Palace and Norwich City, Cann began refereeing in 1991 and has worked in the Premier League since 2005. He holds the distinct honour of running the line in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, the 2010 UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, and the 2006 FA Cup final between West Ham United and Liverpool.
Antrobus, meanwhile, will work in the Premier League for just the second time in his career on Tuesday. An experienced assistant in the EFL, Antrobus ran the line during Everton’s 2-1 top-flight win over Crystal Palace in September, and has worked at 22 matches in the Championship this campaign.
Tuesday’s fourth official is Tom Nield.
An experienced whistler in the EFL, who took charge of the 2023 League Two Play-Off final, Nield has never refereed in the Premier League, but has undertaken fourth official duties in the division on ten occasions, including West Ham’s match against Brentford on 28 September 2024.
Video Assistant Referee responsibilities will be overseen by Stuart Attwell. The 42-year-old was the man in the middle during our 0-0 draw with Everton in November, and earlier this season took charge of his 200th fixture in the English top flight. He will be assisted by Natalie Aspinall.
