Wed Apr 27, 2016 2:09 pm
Sheffield Wednesday supporting linesman dropped from Owls' crunch playoff decider against Cardiff City
Wednesday 27th April 2016
Daily Mirror
BY JAMES WHALING
James Bell, who lives in the Steel City, will now be an assistant referee at Forest vs Wolves after the Football League made a U-turn on his appointment
Wednesday are hoping to return to the Premier League this term
A Sheffield Wednesday fan who was appointed as a linesman for the Owls' crunch playoff clash against Cardiff City on Saturday has been dropped from the fixture by the Football League.
James Bell, a rookie match official, lives in Sheffield and was due to be an assistant referee at Hillsborough for the visit of the Bluebirds which will have huge implications on who secures the final playoff spot.
However, after the situation was flagged to the Football League by eagle-eyed representatives in South Wales, they have taken the decision to re-allocate him to Nottingham Forest vs Wolves, while Ravel Cheosiaua will take his place in South Yorkshire.
The incident comes a fortnight after the Premier League's controversial decision to remove referee Kevin Friend from Tottenham's clash at Stoke, because the official resides in Leicester.
Spurs were going head-to-head with the Foxes in the title race, and the authorities stood Friend down, despite the fact he is actually a Bristol City fan.
A spokesman for the Professional Game Match Officials Board told the Sheffield Star: "A software error led to James Bell being incorrectly appointed to Sheffield Wednesday's match with Cardiff City, as he is normally prohibited from officiating at matches involving either of the two Sheffield clubs.
"The error has now been rectified and James will not be involved in this match."
Carlos Carvalhal's Owls go into the fixture four points clear of Cardiff in the race for sixth spot - meaning a point will secure their place in the playoffs.
A victory for the Bluebirds would take it to the final game of the campaign, where Wednesday travel to Wolves and Russell Slade's side host Birmingham.
Wed Apr 27, 2016 2:18 pm
Linesman ditched from crunch Sheffield Wednesday match - after being revealed as Owls fan
Official James Bell is a Sheffield Wednesday fan.
Sheffield Star
Wednesday 27 April 2016
Rookie official James Bell - who has been dropped from Sheffield Wednesday’s key play-off duel with Cardiff City - is an Owls fan, The Star can confirm.
Bell, in his first season as a Football League official, was originally chosen to be one of the linesmen assisting referee Paul Tierney in Saturday’s crunch showdown at Hillsborough.