Premier League referee Mike Jones will officiating Saturday’s FA Cup Third Round tie with SkyBet Championship club Birmingham City.
The Cheshire based official has been a Premier League referee since August 2008 when he took charge of Wigan Athletic handed out a 5-0 hammering of Hull City at the KC Stadium.
He was the referee for one of the Premier League’s more comical goals in 2009 as Sunderland’s Darren Bent gave his side a 1-0 home win over Liverpool in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. The striker hit a low shot from ten yards that was deflected past Reds keeper Pepe Reina by a beach ball thrown on to the pitch by a Liverpool fan.
He was selected as fourth official for the FA Cup Final in 2012 as Chelsea lifted the famous old trophy thanks to a 2-1 win over Liverpool.
Jones has had a busy festive period as he oversaw Manchester United’s 3-1 home win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day before officiating the 0-0 draw between QPR and Crystal Palace at Loftus Road two days later.
So far this season he has overseen seventeen games in the Premier League and Championship, handing out fifty three yellow cards and five red cards. The last of his dismissals was Manchester City’s French international centre back Eliaquim Mangala during his side’s 3-0 win at Southampton in November.
Mr Jones will be assisted by Adrian Holmes and Kevin Mulraine.