Who is Jarred Gillett? Australian set to become Premier League’s first overseas referee this weekend

Jarred Gillett has officated in the EFL since 2019 after spending nine years in his home country in the A-League but will become the first overseas referee to take charge of a Premier League game this weekend as he heads to Watford for their tie with Newcastle United.

The 34-year-old has refereed five Hyundai A-League Grand Finals and has been named the Hyundai A-League Referee of the Year on five occasions - making him the most successful referee in the league’s history.

Following Gillett’s success in Australia he moved to England in 2019, joining Select Group 2 at the start of the 2019/20 campaign after taking up a post-doctoral research position at Liverpool John Moores University.

In April 2019 Gillett took charge of his first EFL fixture and has since refereed in League Two, League One and the Championship - including the Championship play-off semi-final second leg between Brentford and AFC Bournemouth.

The Australian also has experience with VAR in the Premier League, being named as the replay official during a 2019 clash between Arsenal and Crystal Palace in which he ruled out a goal from Sokratis, causing anger amongst the Gunners.

In June 2021 Gillett was selected amongst three referees to be promoted to the Select Group 1 which would allow him to officiate Premier League games from this season onwards and this weekend’s fixture between Watford and Newcastle United will be his first in charge.

Gillett and the Magpies will travel to Vicarage Road for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon as the visitors look for their first win of the season.