Referee Craig Pawson pulled from Liverpool vs Chelsea clash two hours before kick-off

Liverpool v Chelsea: Premier League preview

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Craig Pawson has been forced to pull out of refereeing Liverpool vs Chelsea this evening just hours before kick-off, with Martin Atkinson coming in to replace the official. Pawson hadn’t officiated a Premier League match since West Ham’s 2-1 win over Tottenham last month.

He dished out seven yellow cards in that game and was set to be the man in the middle for this evening’s top-four crunch match between Chelsea and Liverpool.

But Liverpool-based journalist David Lynch reports that he’s had to step down from officiating the match.

It is claimed that the 42-year-old had a ‘close contact’ who had tested positive for coronavirus.

He’s pulled out as a precautionary measure with UK guidelines stating if someone you’re in close contact with tests positive for coronavirus, then that person must self-isolate for 10 days.

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