Tony Harrington is an English football referee born in Cleveland, Yorkshire, in 1983 or 1984. He began his refereeing career at the age of 14 in the Teesside Junior Football Alliance, after completing a refereeing course during his secondary studies. Before fully dedicating himself to refereeing, he worked as a physical education teacher at North Shore Academy.
In the 2012-2013 season, Harrington was included in the list of referees of the English Football League (EFL). Subsequently, in 2016, he rose to Select Group 2, and in June 2021 he reached Select Group 1, allowing him to referee in the Premier League. His debut in this competition took place on December 16, 2021.
One of the highlights of his career was refereeing the FA Trophy 2021 final at Wembley Stadium on May 22, 2021. Additionally, eight days later, he refereed the EFL League One 2021 play-off final between Blackpool and Lincoln City at the same venue.
Regarding his refereeing style, Harrington is known for his balanced approach, combining firmness in rule enforcement with effective communication with players. During the 2024-2025 season, he has refereed 13 Premier League matches, showing a total of 48 yellow cards and 2 red cards, reflecting his willingness to maintain discipline on the field when necessary.
A notable anecdote in his career occurred on May 17, 2021, when he officiated the first leg of the Championship play-off semifinal between Barnsley and Swansea City. In that match, Swansea secured a crucial 1-0 away victory in their attempt to be promoted to the Premier League.
England
