The Football Association has confirmed the match officials for the double-header FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Saturday 29 August.
Durham FA’s Rebecca Welch has been appointed referee for the Women’s FA Community Shield between current Barclays FA WSL champions Chelsea and 2019 Women’s FA Cup winners Manchester City (12.30pm BST, BBC One and BBC iPlayer).
Welch will be joined in the showpiece fixture by Lancashire FA pair Natalie Aspinall and Emily Carney as assistant referees, Abigail Byrne (Suffolk FA) as fourth official and Cristiana Hattersley (Lancashire FA) as reserve assistant referee.
Birmingham FA’s Andre Marriner has been appointed referee for the second game of the curtain raiser event, The FA Community Shield, supported by McDonalds between 2020 Emirates FA Cup winners Arsenal and Premier League champions Liverpool (16.30pm BST, BT Sport 1 & BT Sport Ultimate). Marriner will be joined by assistant referees Mark Scholes (Berks & Bucks FA) and Marc Perry (Birmingham FA), fourth official Andrew Madley (West Riding FA) and reserve assistant referee Dan Robathan (Norfolk FA).
David Coote (Nottinghamshire FA) will be the video assistant referee (VAR) for The FA Community Shield supported by McDonald’s, and will be joined at Stockley Park by assistant VAR (AVAR) Dan Cook (Hampshire FA).
FA Referees’ Committee Chairman, David Elleray, said: “The FA Referees’ Committee has appointed two experienced teams of match officials for the double header of FA Community Shield matches, reflecting the importance of both matches. Andre Marriner will be officiating in his second FA Community Shield whilst the rest of his team and Rebecca Welch and her team will be experiencing a Wembley FA Community Shield for the first time.
“Both sets of officials will be mindful that their respective matches ‘kick-off’ the season and they thus have an important role in enforcing this year’s changes to the Laws of the Game, which will be applied in the new season. The FA Referees’ Committee has every confidence that both sets of officials will work hard to enhance each match so that it is a memorable occasion for those taking part and those watching remotely.”
Match officials list:
Women’s FA Community Shield: Chelsea v Manchester City
Referee: Rebecca Welch (Durham FA)
Assistant referees: Natalie Aspinall and Emily Carney (both Lancashire FA)
Fourth official: Abigail Byrne (Suffolk FA)
Reserve assistant referee: Cristiana Hattersley (Lancashire FA)
The FA Community Shield supported by McDonald’s: Arsenal v Liverpool
Referee: Andre Marriner (Birmingham FA)
Assistant referees: Mark Scholes (Berks and Bucks FA) and Marc Perry (Birmingham FA)
Fourth official: Andrew Madley (W.Riding FA)
Reserve assistant referee: Dan Robathan (Norfolk FA)
VAR: David Coote (Nottinghamshire FA)
AVAR: Dan Cook (Hampshire FA)
