Referee who ruled out Jerome goal will be VAR for City’s home clash with Newcastle
PUBLISHED: 09:25 13 August 2019 | UPDATED: 09:29 13 August 2019
Simon Hooper, pictured last season during Norwich City's 3-0 home loss to Leeds, will be the VAR official for Saturday's Carrow Road game against Newcastle Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images
Paul Chesterton
He controversially ruled out a goal during the opening Carrow Road game of Norwich City’s last Premier League campaign – and Simon Hooper will be involved again on Saturday.
The Wiltshire official has been named the video assistant referee (VAR) for City's clash with Newcastle, assisting referee Stuart Attwell. Hooper disallowed a superb Cameron Jerome overhead kick as dangerous play in August 2015, which would have seen the Canaries draw level at 2-2, going on to lose 3-1 instead.
The decision drew widespread criticism and Hooper was dropped from the next set of Premier League fixtures. He has however refereed seven Norwich games since then, including two Carrow Road games last season: the 3-0 loss to Leeds and 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
The VAR checks for 'clear and obvious' errors involving goals, direct red card incidents, penalty decisions and mistaken identity.
MORE: How VAR will work at Carrow Road
Attwell has been on Europa League qualifying duty so far and was in charge of the Canaries' 3-1 win at Leeds last season.
- Norwich City v Newcastle officials
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Derek Eaton
Fourth official: Tom Nield
VAR: Simon Hooper
Assistant VAR: Neil Davies
