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Kevin Friend
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Kevin Friend (born 8 July 1971)[3] is a former professional football referee based in Leicester. He is a member of the Leicestershire and Rutland County Football Association.

Key Information

His most notable appointments have been to referee the 2012 Community Shield, played at Villa Park, the 2013 League Cup final which was held at Wembley Stadium, and the 2019 FA Cup final which was also held at Wembley.

Career

[edit]

Friend started refereeing at the age of 14 in his home county of Leicestershire. He officiated in the Leicestershire Senior League and Midland Football Alliance before being promoted to the National List of Referees, and later to the Select Group of Referees ahead of the 2009–10 season. His first Premier League fixture was on 20 September 2009: a 2–1 victory for Wolverhampton Wanderers over Fulham; Friend showed two yellow cards during his debut appointment in England's top-flight.

Friend issued his first Premier League red card on 15 December 2009 to Sunderland captain Lorik Cana for a second bookable offence in his team's 2–0 defeat to Aston Villa.

He refereed the 2009 FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium on 10 May between Whitley Bay and Glossop North End, won 2–0 by the Bay.

During a Football League One match in 2010 between Norwich City and Milton Keynes Dons Friend issued 11 yellow cards, including two to Dons player Aaron Wilbraham.[4]

Friend showed a red card to Sunderland defender Wes Brown in a 2013 Premier League match against Stoke City, which the FA later rescinded.[5][6]

In 2016, Friend was controversially prevented from officiating a Premier League match between Stoke City and title contenders Tottenham Hotspur, due to him being a supporter of fellow title challengers Leicester City.[7]

At the end of the 2021–22 season, Friend retired from officiating, but will continue to work for PGMOL as manager of the Select Group 2 referees.[8]

2012 FA Community Shield

[edit]

On 3 July 2012, it was announced that Friend would referee the 2012 FA Community Shield, played on 12 August at Villa Park.[9] His assistants were Michael McDonough and Richard West, and Anthony Taylor was the fourth official.

Chelsea were defeated 3–2 by Manchester City. Branislav Ivanović was sent off for the Blues for a high challenge towards the end of the first half. Ivanović did not serve any subsequent suspension, however, after FA rule changes regarding pre-season fixtures.[10]

2013 League Cup final

[edit]

Friend refereed the 2013 League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 24 February. The match was contested by League 2's Bradford City and Premier League Swansea City.

Swansea won the final 5–0.[11] An incident early in the second-half, when the Premier League side were already 3–0 up, saw Friend adjudge Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke to have committed a professional foul. The official dismissed Duke and awarded Swansea a penalty kick, which was converted by Jonathan de Guzmán; he also scored again in the 90th minute. The other Swansea goals came courtesy of Nathan Dyer (2) and Michu.[12]

2019 FA Cup final

[edit]

Friend refereed the 2019 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 18 May 2019. The match was contested between Manchester City and Watford, with Manchester City winning the match 6–0.

Statistics

[edit]
Season Games Total Yellow card Yellow card per game Total Red card Red card per game
2003–04 27 98 3.63 4 0.15
2004–05 37 107 2.89 7 0.19
2005–06 21 45 2.14 2 0.09
2006–07 34 87 2.56 6 0.18
2007–08 41 100 2.44 11 0.27
2008–09 46 124 2.69 6 0.13
2009–10 34 133 3.91 7 0.21
2010–11 33 116 3.52 7 0.21
2011–12 33 120 3.64 3 0.09
2012–13 34 120 3.53 3 0.09
2013–14 31 98 3.16 1 0.03
2014–15 35 141 4.03 5 0.14
2015–16 31 100 3.23 6 0.06
2016–17 32 127 3.97 2 0.06
2017–18 33 66 2.00 1 0.03
2018–19 39 139 3.56 3 0.08
2019–20 33 89 2.70 8 0.24
2020–21 31 74 2.39 3 0.10
2021–22 28 109 3.89 2 0.07

Statistics are for all competitions as of 18 May 2019. No records are available prior to 2003–04.[13]

References

[edit]
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Kevin Friend

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Kevin Friend (born 8 July 1971) is an English former professional football referee based in , best known for officiating in the and major cup finals before retiring in 2022 to become the Select Group 2 manager at the (PGMOL). Friend began his refereeing career at the age of 14 in local leagues in , progressing through the ranks as a member of the Leicestershire and County Football Association. He was promoted to the of referees in 2009, debuting in the that September, and went on to officiate more than 200 top-flight matches over the next 13 years. Among his most notable appointments were the between Chelsea and Manchester City at , the 2013 Final between Bradford City and Swansea City at , and the between Manchester City and . Friend also served as fourth official for the and handled numerous high-profile fixtures, including controversies such as his removal from a 2016 match due to his personal support for Leicester City. Following his retirement from active refereeing at the end of the 2021–22 season, Friend transitioned into a managerial role at PGMOL, overseeing 2 officials who primarily work in the and supporting referee development and programs. In this capacity, he has contributed to discussions on improving officiating standards amid ongoing challenges like player abuse and the integration of video assistant referees (VAR).

Early life and background

Birth and upbringing

Kevin Friend was born on 8 July 1971 in , . Following his birth, Friend moved to the area during his early years, where he was raised and developed lasting connections to the region.

Entry into refereeing

Born in but relocating to as a child, Kevin Friend began his refereeing career at the age of 14 in 1985. Friend's initial assignments were in Leicestershire's amateur circuits, where he officiated matches in the Leicestershire Senior League, a level 11 regional league. He quickly progressed to handling games in the , a regional league spanning the .

Refereeing career

Local and regional progression

Kevin Friend began refereeing matches in local leagues at the age of 14 in 1985, quickly establishing himself within the amateur football scene in his . As a member of the Leicestershire and County Football Association, he officiated games in the Leicester Senior League during the late and throughout the , handling fixtures across various amateur divisions that emphasized grassroots development and fair play. These early assignments allowed him to build foundational skills in match control and decision-making under the pressures of local derbies and community-supported clubs. By the mid-1990s, Friend's consistent performance led to his advancement into regional competitions, notably the Midland Football Alliance, a step 7 league in the English football pyramid that featured semi-professional teams from the region. In this environment, he refereed more competitive encounters, including cup ties and league matches involving clubs aspiring to higher divisions, which honed his ability to manage physical play and tactical disputes common in . Representative examples from this period include his oversight of Alliance fixtures that tested his endurance across demanding schedules, contributing to his reputation for reliability among regional assessors. Friend's steady progression through these local and regional tiers during the culminated in his promotion to the Football Association's of referees in 2003, a milestone that recognized his readiness for professional-level officiating in the Football League and equivalent competitions. This achievement followed several seasons of high evaluations in the Midland , where his experience in regional play provided the necessary preparation for broader national exposure.

National List and Football League

Kevin Friend was promoted to the Football Association's of referees in 2003, enabling him to officiate professional matches in the (EFL). His debut in the EFL occurred on 30 August 2003, when he refereed Lincoln City's 3–0 victory over York City in the Third Division. During the 2003–04 season, Friend handled two such fixtures. In the following 2004–05 season, following the Third Division's renaming to League Two, Friend handled eight League Two fixtures, issuing 39 yellow cards and three red cards across his appointments. He quickly progressed to higher divisions, taking charge of his first Championship match on 18 September 2004 as part of eight total EFL assignments that year. He continued officiating in League Two during the 2005–06 season, including matches such as Rovers' encounter with an opponent on 31 January 2006 and Town's game on 15 April 2006. By the 2006–07 season, Friend had advanced to regular appointments in League One, exemplified by his refereeing of Athletic's 5–0 victory on 1 January 2007. Throughout the , Friend's assignments spanned all three EFL divisions, with increasing responsibility in the by the late decade. His consistent handling of competitive fixtures, such as Wigan Athletic's 2–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the on 4 January 2005, demonstrated his growing competence at the professional level. This period of steady progression across the EFL established Friend as a reliable official prior to his elevation to the in 2009.

Premier League involvement

Kevin Friend joined the Premier League's elite officiating panel when he was promoted to the Select Group of Referees prior to the 2009–10 season, building on his prior experience in the Football League. His first match at this level occurred on 20 September 2009, refereeing at . During the game, Friend awarded a penalty to , which Danny Murphy converted, marking a notable moment in his top-flight debut. Throughout the 2009–10 campaign and beyond, Friend solidified his position within Select Group 1, the Premier League's primary refereeing cadre, receiving regular appointments to competitive fixtures. He typically handled 20 to 25 matches per season during the , contributing to the league's demanding schedule of midweek and weekend games across England's top division. Friend's involvement extended into the early , where he maintained a steady presence in weekly assignments until concluding his on-field career after the 2021–22 season. Over his 13-year tenure, he officiated 198 matches, demonstrating sustained reliability in high-stakes environments.

Major finals and key matches

Kevin Friend's most prominent assignments came in major domestic cup and shield finals, where he officiated high-stakes matches involving top-tier English clubs. These appointments highlighted his progression to elite-level refereeing, culminating in Wembley showpieces that showcased his handling of intense competition and significant decisions. On 12 August 2012, Friend refereed the at , Birmingham, between Chelsea and Manchester City. The match ended 3–2 in favor of Manchester City, with Friend issuing a straight red card to Chelsea's in first-half stoppage time for a high challenge on , a decision that shifted momentum in the game. He also showed eight yellow cards during the competitive curtain-raiser to the season. Friend's next major final was the on 24 February 2013 at , pitting League Two side City against Premier League team Swansea City. Swansea dominated with a 5–0 victory, marking the largest margin in the competition's final history, as goals from (two), , , and secured their first major trophy. Key decisions included Friend's straight red card to goalkeeper in the 55th minute for denying de Guzmán a goalscoring opportunity, reducing Bradford to 10 men and altering the game's dynamics. In 2019, Friend officiated the on 18 May at , where Manchester City faced in a one-sided 6–0 triumph for City, completing their domestic treble under . scored a , with , , and also on the scoresheet, in front of 85,854 spectators. Friend managed the lopsided affair without major disruptions, issuing five yellow cards and overseeing a routine victory for the dominant holders.

Controversies and incidents

One notable controversy involving Friend occurred during a match between and Stoke City on 23 November 2013, where he issued a straight red card to defender for a challenge on Stoke's in the 36th minute. The decision drew widespread criticism, as replays suggested Brown had cleanly won the ball without reckless force, leading to appeal the sending-off. The Football Association's disciplinary panel subsequently rescinded the red card on 26 November 2013, clearing Brown to play and overturning the three-match ban, with referees' chief Mike Riley issuing an apology to the club for the error. In April 2016, amid City's unexpected title challenge, Friend was removed from officiating Tottenham Hotspur's match against Stoke City on 18 April due to his known support for , raising concerns about potential bias in a fixture that could impact the title race. The replaced him with Neil Swarbrick to maintain neutrality, a decision Friend accepted despite no evidence of prior favoritism in his refereeing record. This incident highlighted ongoing debates about referees' personal allegiances, particularly Friend's affiliation, though analyses of his previous matches showed no patterns of leniency toward the club. Friend faced further scrutiny in the VAR era, including a high-profile error during Manchester United's 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town on 3 February 2018, where he initially awarded a goal to but disallowed it after a lengthy VAR review citing an offside, later attributed to a technical glitch by rather than human error. More significantly, in Liverpool's 3-1 victory over on 20 January 2022, Friend awarded a controversial penalty to for a foul on by Joachim Andersen after VAR intervention, a decision widely criticized as "ridiculous" and leading to his temporary stand-down from duties for the following weekend. The incident fueled broader discussions on VAR's role in overturning on-field judgments, with Friend later reflecting on the pressures of such reviews in interviews.

Retirement and later career

End of active refereeing

Kevin Friend announced his retirement from active on-field refereeing on 21 June 2022, at the age of 50, following the conclusion of the 2021–22 season. His final Premier League match was the 3–1 victory for & Hove Albion over United on 22 May 2022, marking the end of his assignments in the top flight for that season. Earlier in May 2022, he had refereed Tottenham Hotspur's 1–0 win against on 15 May and Everton's 1–0 defeat of Chelsea on 1 May, both in the . Friend's decision to retire stemmed from the length of his career, which spanned over two decades of professional officiating since his early days in local leagues, and a desire to transition into administrative roles within football governance. Having been a fixture in the since his debut in 2009, this move allowed him to step away from the physical demands of match officiating after more than 13 years at the elite level.

Managerial role in PGMOL

Following his from active refereeing at the end of the 2021–22 season, Kevin Friend was appointed as the 2 Manager for (PGMOL) in June 2022. This newly created position involves overseeing a group of approximately 20 referees and 33 assistant referees who primarily officiate in the , as well as serving as fourth officials in matches. Friend's responsibilities encompass the , development, and of these officials, including leading sessions at PGMOL training camps to review decision-making, physical conditioning, and . He coordinates with coaches and analysts to deliver data-driven feedback and scenario-based exercises, emphasizing accuracy and professionalism amid external pressures. As of 2025, his oversight extends to ongoing VAR and protocol adherence for 2 officials, supporting the broader adoption of the system in EFL competitions. Under Friend's leadership since 2022, PGMOL's 2 has seen enhanced focus on holistic referee preparation, including nutrition, fitness profiling, and error-reduction strategies, which have bolstered overall officiating standards in the and feeder pathways to the . This includes targeted guidance on rule interpretations, such as adjustments to handball and holding offenses, to promote consistency and reduce controversies in lower-tier matches. His efforts have helped maintain a pipeline of competent officials, addressing concerns over experience shortages in English football's professional refereeing structure.

Personal life

Residence and affiliations

Kevin Friend was born in but raised in the area, where he has resided since the early stages of his professional development, establishing a long-term base in the city. This enduring connection to underscores his integration into the local community, with no indications of relocation despite his national-level commitments. As a longstanding member of the and , Friend maintains formal ties to regional football administration, contributing to its organizational framework. His affiliation with the association, which governs and county-level activities in the area, highlights his role in broader football development beyond direct involvement. Friend's local engagements extend to recognizing long-service contributions within the county's football ecosystem, as evidenced by his receipt of a milestone award from the and County FA for sustained dedication to the sport's community structures. These affiliations reflect his commitment to fostering football at the regional level, aligning with his origins in .

Team support and conflicts of interest

Kevin Friend, a professional football referee, has publicly acknowledged his support for , an allegiance first detailed in a 2016 BBC Sport investigation into Premier League referees' team preferences. Born in , Friend relocated to the area, where his fandom for the local club developed alongside his earlier support for Bristol City, though Leicester became his primary affiliation in professional contexts. This disclosure aligned with standard practices requiring referees to report personal team loyalties to maintain impartiality. The (PGMOL), the body overseeing referees, enforces strict policies on team allegiances to prevent conflicts of interest and external scrutiny. Referees must declare any supported clubs upon joining the elite list, and assignments are managed to exclude matches involving those teams, ensuring neutrality in high-stakes fixtures. Friend adhered to these guidelines by proactively disclosing his Leicester City support, which PGMOL used to safeguard against perceived bias, particularly during periods of intense competition for his favored club. In April 2016, during City's historic title-winning season, Friend was removed from officiating Hotspur's match against Stoke City to avoid any indirect influence on the title race, as were direct challengers to . This decision, prompted by Friend's known allegiance, highlighted PGMOL's broader approach at the time to preempt potential controversies, leading to subsequent policy refinements where referees are primarily barred only from their supported team's direct games starting the following season.

Officiating record

Total matches refereed

Kevin Friend began his refereeing in local leagues at the age of 14 in 1985, progressing through the ranks as a member of the Leicestershire and County FA. His first professional match came in the Football League during the 2003–04 season, with United's 2–0 victory over Cheltenham Town in League Two. From the 2003–04 to the 2021–22 seasons, Friend officiated a total of 633 matches across various professional competitions before retiring from active refereeing in 2022. This figure encompasses games in the English football pyramid, including the , EFL divisions, and domestic cups. In the , he refereed 270 matches from his debut in the 2009–10 season through to 2021–22, establishing himself as a mainstay in the of top officials. Prior to and alongside his top-flight assignments, Friend handled numerous fixtures in the EFL, particularly the Championship, League One, and League Two, as well as in the and ; for instance, his early professional years from 2003 to 2009 focused primarily on lower-tier league games. Friend's portfolio also included select cup ties and a handful of matches in international competitions, such as Japan's , though these represented a minor portion of his overall volume compared to domestic league and cup duties.

Disciplinary statistics

Throughout his refereeing career, Kevin Friend issued yellow cards at an average of approximately 3.30 per game and red cards at 0.14 per game. These figures are based on his 633 professional matches, with disciplinary records showing 925 yellow cards and 31 red cards across 270 games (averages of 3.43 yellows and 0.11 reds per game). Friend's disciplinary approach evolved modestly over time, particularly around the introduction of (VAR) in the starting in the 2019/20 season. Pre-VAR, his yellow card average was higher, reflecting greater on-field discretion. Post-VAR, in his final three seasons (2019/20–2021/22), he averaged 3.10 yellow cards per match and 0.14 red cards per match across approximately 69 games, suggesting VAR's influence contributed to marginally fewer cautions while preserving red card consistency. This trend aligns with broader patterns, where technological aids reduced subjective yellow issuances without significantly altering dismissal rates.
Season RangeMatches (approx.)Yellow Cards (Avg.)Red Cards (Avg.)
Pre-2019/20564~3.320.14
2019/20–2021/22693.100.14
Career Total633~3.300.14

References

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