FA Cup final referee: These fans are unsure about seeing Kevin Friend officiate Manchester City vs Watford clash – ‘Cup final will be a bloodbath’

FA Cup final referee: These fans are unsure about seeing Kevin Friend officiate Manchester City vs Watford clash – ‘Cup final will be a bloodbath’
Kevin Friend was announced as the referee for this years FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Watford on May 18.The two sides will face each other at Wembley with City still aiming for a domestic treble.Watfords only appearance in the final was a defeat to Everton in 1984.Getty2

Kevin Friend will take charge of the FA Cup Final

The referee will be an important factor in who lifts the trophy and will no doubt have some big decisions to make on the day.The long-standing tradition means that this will be Friends only appearance as an FA Cup final referee and he will be hoping it passes without any controversial incidents.Manchester City have a good record when he has taken charge of their games.Getty2

Referees can only officiate the FA Cup Final once

They have lost just twice in the 24 times he has refereed them and Friend has never sent a City player off.The Hornets have less cause to be hopeful, though, as they have managed just four wins in 19 games with Friend officiating. He has also shown two red cards.

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Friend told the Football Association: As a referee, the FA Cup Final is the pinnacle of your career. When you start out you never dream that youre going to get the chance to take charge of a cup final, so to get the call this year is just fantastic.Every referee has goals and targets. There are certain games you want to be a part of and the FA Cup Final is definitely on that list.No matter what game it is, no referee can do it all on their own its all about the team. This is a huge honour for us all and Im really looking forward to it. Friend will be joined by assistant referees Constantine Hatzidakis and Matthew Wilkes, fourth official Graham Scott and reserve assistant referee Edward Smart.Andre Marriner will be the video assistant referee for the match.The reaction to the Kevin Friend appointment was mixed on social media though. Below you can see the best tweets.

Kevin Friend's one of those refs who thinks giving decisions is a sign of weakness, hyped for the cup final to be a bloodbath— BAKER (@JackBaker1311) April 29, 2019

probably the worst 2 refs in the country , kevin friend and andre marriner abosulte 2 bob officials #steviewonderwoulddoabetterjob— Andrew Siggers (@Siggsboy1) April 29, 2019

A testament to the standard of refereeing, no wonder no English referee at the last World Cup— kevin davies (@JohnkevdDavies) April 29, 2019

pic.twitter.com/f3rFxmOaFv— Nick Chainey (@NLFG) April 29, 2019

— chris22 (@CJG_223) April 29, 2019

pic.twitter.com/1IYvP8ZtJe— DB (@DavidBa52504655) April 29, 2019

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