Premier League confirm official decision ahead of Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur after previous controversy

Tottenham Hotspur will hope to round off what has been a difficult ten days when they visit struggling Southampton in a rare Sunday night fixture.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have emerged empty-handed from Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth and Chelsea over that time despite taking a two-goal lead against the latter last weekend. The Europa League trip to Scottish giants Rangers offered little respite as Spurs were forced to battle for a point after Dejan Kulusevski’s equaliser cancelled out an opener from hosts forward Hamza Igamane. All eyes now turn towards Sunday’s visit to St Mary’s Stadium as Postecoglou’s men will look to secure a win that could take them to within two points of the top six and ensure their hosts head into the final week before Christmas sat firmly at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Ahead of the game, the Premier League have appointed Darren England as referee as the FIFA-listed official takes charge of his third Spurs game this season. There have experience mixed fortunes in games overseen by the 38-year-old during the first four months of the campaign after he was named as the man in the middle for the Carabao Cup third round win at Championship club Coventry City and last month’s home defeat against Premier League rivals Ipswich Town.

England only officiated one Spurs fixture last season after he was on main duties for a win at Burnley as a Son Heung-min hat-trick and a goal apiece from Cristian Romero and James Maddison helped Ange Postecoglou’s men to a 5-2 victory at Turf Moor.

However, Spurs links with England are probably centred around a controversial moment in a 2-1 win against Liverpool in September last year. Acting as the lead VAR official, England failed to intervene when a Luis Diaz goal was ruled out for offside despite video evidence showing the Reds forward was onside. Audio recordings released by the PGMOL revealed an error in communication between England and the on-field officials and he was removed from playing any part in Liverpool fixtures during the remainder of the season.

The Premier League have also confirmed the team of officials that will support England at St Mary’s on Sunday night after Neil Davies and Akil Howson were named as assistants. Sam Barrott will be fourth official, Paul Tierney is the lead VAR official and he will be assisted at Stockley Park by Richard West.