Confirmed Match Officials: Manchester City vs Salford City (FA Cup Third Round) | OneFootball

The Football Association have now confirmed their list of match officials for Manchester City’s first outing in the latest edition of the FA Cup this weekend.

Pep Guardiola and his players will be aiming to reach the final of England’s most prestigious cup competition for the third season running come the end of the ongoing campaign, having missed out on back-to-back successes in the tournament last season.

Manchester City claimed the FA Cup in the 2022/23 season with a final victory over Manchester United en route to a historic Treble culminating in a UEFA Champions League final win over Inter Milan just one week later.

However, a repeat of that same final would come at the end of the last campaign, as City slumped to a 2-1 defeat to their bitter rivals in the ultimate act of revenge from an Erik ten Hag-led Red Devils outfit.

With many within Manchester City already writing off their chances of a fifth successive Premier League crown this season, and their hopes of a UEFA Champions League knock-out place hanging by a thread, the FA Cup presents an excellent chance for silverware.

However, a stern challenge awaits in the third round of the competition as Salford City make the short trip across Greater Manchester as they look to cause one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history.

Ahead of the meeting between Manchester City and Salford City, the Football Association have now announced the list of match officials to oversee proceedings at the Etihad Stadium!

Match Referee

Manchester City against Salford City in the FA Cup third round will be officiated by match referee Josh Smith, the Football Association have confirmed in the lead-up to the fixture this weekend.

The predominantly English Football League referee has taken charge of three Premier League matches already this season at the end of August, September, and in early December as he continues his rise within the game.

This will not only be Smith’s first outing in the FA Cup this season, but also the first time he has taken charge of a match involving Manchester City, having only come across the club’s Under-21 side on one previous occasion.

Across his 21 matches in all competitions so far this season, spanning across the Premier League, Championship, League One, and Carabao Cup, Josh Smith has issued a total of 85 yellow cards, one straight red card, and awarded four penalties in the process.

Assistant Referees

Accompanying Josh Smith from the roles of Assistant Referees at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening will be Stuart Burt and Sam Lewis, the Football Association have confirmed.

Video Assistant Referees

VAR will not be in operation during Manchester City’s third round clash against Salford City in the FA Cup, despite the contest taking place at the Etihad Stadium.

A statement from the Football Association prior to the commencement of the third round of the competition read, “Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be used in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards.

“It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.

“VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.

“This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition.”

Fourth Official

Standing between Pep Guardiola and Salford City boss, Karl Robinson will be Edward Duckworth – who has been selected by the Football Association as this weekend’s fourth official.