Jarred Gillett set for Premier League history

����Ӱ�� today commended Australian match official Jarred Gillett, who is set to become the first overseas referee in Premier League history to take charge of a match in England’s top-flight this weekend.

Gillett, 34, has been appointed to Watford FC’s home fixture against Newcastle United at Vicarage Road early on Sunday morning (AEST), just two years after he swapped the football fields of Australia for England. 

����Ӱ�� Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, said Australia’s football family should be proud of Gillett’s achievement, which comes following 159 A-League fixtures, including five (5) A-League Grand Finals. 

“We were thrilled to learn of Jarred’s Premier League appointment this week and can’t wait to see him lead Watford and Newcastle onto the pitch this weekend,” Johnson said. 

“For an Australian match official to have earned the honour to become the first overseas referee in history to take charge of a fixture in one of the world’s biggest leagues is an outstanding achievement, and speaks to the high regard in which Jarred, and Australian match officials generally, are held globally.

“Throughout 2021 Australian match officials have taken charge of key matches at the men’s and women’s football tournaments at Tokyo 2020 and at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania. Australian football has a long association with the Premier League and to see Jarred make history for Australian referees in the competition will be another highlight and will provide inspiration and motivation to thousands of aspiring match officials across the nation,” he said. 

Gillett is a five-time recipient of the A-League Referee of the Year award and officiated the FFA Cup Final in 2018. He has amassed a diverse range of experiences throughout his career, having also refereed in the J1 League, Saudi Professional League, Chinese Super League, Indian Super League, AFC Champions League, and Asian Football Confederation FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

����Ӱ�� Chair and Chair of ����Ӱ��’s Referees Committee, Chris Nikou, said Gillett’s progression from the A-League to one of the world’s top leagues clearly demonstrates Gillett’s commitment to his craft.   

“Two years ago Jarred moved to England to undertake a post-doctoral research position at John Moores University in Liverpool, but he still held the goal of climbing the ranks as a referee,” Nikou explained. 

“After first being appointed to a League Two fixture, Jarred has gone on to referee over fifty matches in the Championship, games in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, League One, and has operated as VAR and fourth official in the Premier League. 

“To now be setting himself to whistle in the Premier League is testament to Jarred’s commitment to refereeing, his professionalism, and his passion for the game,” he said.  

Jarred Gillett's Refereeing Career Highlights:

• A-League Referee from 2010-2019 – 159 matches as a referee
• First match 19/09/2010 – Gold Coast United v Central Coast Mariners
• 159^th match 08/03/2019 – Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers
• A-League Grand Final & Referee of the Year x5 – 2012, 2015-2018
• FFA Cup Final 2018 – Adelaide United v Sydney FC
• FIFA Referee 2013-2019; AFC Elite Referee 2014-2019
• Member of the inaugural Video Assistant Referee (VAR) panel in the A-League (2017)
• Officiated in the J1 League, Indian Super League, Chinese Super League, Saudi Professional League, 2015 and 2016 International Champions Cup
• Added to Select Group 2 Referees Panel in 2019, refereeing EFL fixtures as well as Fourth Official & VAR for Premier League
• 2020/21 EFL Championship Play-off Semi Final, Brentford FC v AFC Bournemouth
• Added to Select Group 1 Referees Panel in 2021