Craig Pawson is an English referee born on March 2, 1979 in Sheffield, England. He began his refereeing career in 1993 and joined the Premier League panel in 2013. In 2015, he was included in the FIFA international referees list, a position he held until retiring from the international scene in December 2024.
Pawson is known for his strict and consistent approach to enforcing the rules. Throughout his career, he has averaged 3.32 yellow cards per match, accumulating a total of 1,742 yellow cards and 40 red cards in 524 matches. His firmness on the field has allowed him to maintain control in high-tension matches.
In the Carabao Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur held at Anfield in February 2025, Pawson was the appointed referee. This match was notable not only for the intensity on the pitch, but also because a pilot test was conducted where the referee announced VAR decisions directly to the audience at the stadium, improving transparency and communication with the fans.
Throughout his career, Pawson has been involved in controversial decisions. However, his involvement in the aforementioned Carabao Cup semi-final stood out due to the controversy surrounding a goal by Lucas Bergvall of Tottenham, which sparked debate over a possible previously unsanctioned foul. This situation tested the implementation of stadium announcements and sparked discussions about the effectiveness and clarity of such communication.
England
