Attwell to ref Man Utd's MK Dons Lge Cup tie
- adamhigginsuk
- Aug 20, 2014
- 2 min read
STUART Attwell has been chosen to referee Manchester United's Capital One Cup second round tie against MK Dons.
The 31-year-old will take charge on 26 August as the former Premier League champions travel to the League One side in manager Louis van Gaal's first taste of English cup competitions.
He will be assisted by Ryan T Atkin and Liam Cooper with Keith Hill (Hertfordshire) assigned to fourth official duties.
Attwell, from Warwickshire, has handled four games in all competitions so far this season, brandishing 11 yellows and one red card.
He was criticised for disallowing Albert Adomah's goal for Middlesbrough in their 1-0 defeat at Leeds in the Championship last weekend.
Attwell oversaw Huddersfield's 2-1 win at Reading on Tuesday as well as Northampton's 3-2 victory over Wolves in the first round of the League Cup and Swindon's 3-1 win over Scunthorpe on the opening weekend of the Football League season.
Last season, he sent off nine players and gave out 108 yellow cards in 36 games, as well as awarding five penalties.
The Nuneaton-based whistler spent one season in the Football League, handling the League Two play-off final at the end, before becoming the Premier League's youngest ever official at the age of 25 when promoted in 2008.
Despite being involved in a series of incidents, which included a "ghost goal" and a questionable performance in an East Midlands derby, Attwell became a Fifa referee a year later.
He was heavily criticised throughout his three and a half seasons in the top-flight for making high-profile controversial decisions.
Attwell gave then Bolton defender Gary Cahill a red card for a professional foul which took place on the halfway line and awarded Liverpool a goal when adjudging a free-kick had taken place as Sunderland defender Michael Turner passed the ball back to his goalkeeper to take the kick.
His demotion from the Select Group back to the National List of officials was announced in February 2012, although he has since steadily improved his form and has largely been a mainstay in the Championship.
The only match Attwell has refereed involving Manchester United was their 2-0 Premier League win over Norwich in October 2011.
He last took charge of MK in their 1-1 League One draw against Swindon last September.
It is the first time United are involved in this stage of the competition since being knocked out by York City in 1995.
The League Cup encounter will be screened live on Sky Sports next Tuesday with a record attendance of 29,000 expected at the Stadium MK.
Elsewhere, Graham Scott (Oxfordshire) will oversee the other televised clash on Wednesday as Yorkshire rivals Bradford, runners-up of the competition in 2013, and Leeds meet at Valley Parade.
Last updated: 20 August 2014 13:31pm
(Stuart Attwell image from Zimbio.com)
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