FA Cup Final referees

FA Cup Final Referees are the referees chosen for the FA Cup Final, the deciding game in the English football competition; the FA Cup.

election

Individuals are only allowed to Referee the FA Cup Final once, but are allowed to have previously appeared as assistant referees or fourth officials. David Elleray commentedcite book | title=The Man in the Middle| chapter =The Cup Final| last=Elleray| first=David| authorlink=David Elleray| date=2004| pages=pages 110-119| publisher=Time Warner| location=London| id=ISBN 0-316-72714-8] on his selection for the 1994 FA Cup Final -

Referees and assistants are chosen by the Football Association for their impartiality and their assessed performance scores for previous seasons. Only one referee has ever been replaced under the impartiality rule; Mike Dean agreed to pull out following questions in the media about him being able to referee a Cup Final involving Liverpool as he was from the Wirral, a peninsula situated near the city. Alan Wiley took his place.Cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/04/25/sfnfac25.xml|title=FA replace Cup final referee from the Wirral|accessdate=2007-02-06|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|year=2006|author=Davies, Christopher]

Officials are informed of the appointment by the FA Referees Secretary and sworn to secrecy until a public announcement can be made, usually the following day. There then follows a period of media attention resulting in interviews and features appearing in the national press.

Traditions

When the Cup Final is held at Wembley; traditions include the "Eve of the Final" rally at the Russell Hotel, where the match officials are guests of honour at a meal provided for by the Referees Association.cite book | title=The Man in the Middle| chapter =The Cup Final| last=Elleray| first=David| authorlink=David Elleray| date=2004| pages=pages 110-119| publisher=Time Warner| location=London| id=ISBN 0-316-72714-8] Many members of the Association including serving referees also attend.

Speeches are made and the chosen officials are presented with mementos of the occasion and invited to autograph their refereeing colleagues Cup Final programmes.

The referees usually sleep at White's Hotel, with FA protocol stating that they shouldn't leave the grounds. David Elleray notably ignored this rule and returned to Harrow School to get "a good night's sleep in my own bed".cite book | title=The Man in the Middle| chapter =The Cup Final| last=Elleray| first=David| authorlink=David Elleray| date=2004| pages=pages 110-119| publisher=Time Warner| location=London| id=ISBN 0-316-72714-8]

On the morning of the Cup Final, the officials take a pre-match walk through Hyde Park before travelling by limousine to Wembley.cite book | title=The Man in the Middle| chapter =The Cup Final| last=Elleray| first=David| authorlink=David Elleray| date=2004| pages=pages 110-119| publisher=Time Warner| location=London| id=ISBN 0-316-72714-8] Once there they are obliged once more to autograph Cup Final programmes and are invited to join any VIP's in the Banqueting Hall.

Fees

As of the 2007-08 season the officials' fees for the Cup Final are - "Referee, £525.00; Assistant Referees, £300.00 each; Fourth Official, £225.00 and a Souvenir Medal each" plus travelling expenses.Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/EAB1CE14-3F47-4B83-A8EB-B364E6CF8BC0/117862/FACupRules200708.pdf|title=19.(e).(vii) Provisions concerning match officials; Scale of Fees to be Paid to Match Officials; Final|accessdate=2007-10-06|publisher=The Football Association|year=2007|format=PDF|work=Rules of The FA Challenge Cup Competition]

Referees

Prior to 1915

Notes

ee also

*FA Cup Final