Why Premier League Referee Chris Kavanagh Can Officiate Manchester City Matches
Chris Kavanagh’s Role in Manchester City Matches Explained
Questions have emerged from Liverpool fans after Chris Kavanagh, a referee born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, was appointed to oversee a recent Premier League game involving Manchester City. Fans were particularly upset following the sending off of Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch during the clash.
Liverpool's manager Andoni Iraola criticized Kavanagh’s decision to show Gravenberch two yellow cards, claiming the first foul did not warrant a booking. After Gravenberch’s dismissal in the 62nd minute, Manchester City scored three goals within thirteen minutes, sealing a 3-0 win.
"I think the first foul of Ryan is never a yellow card, never," Iraola said. "It was just a minor contact, a stomp on the big toe. The referee didn’t even call the foul immediately. He let some things go before deciding to book him. I don’t see why the second yellow was given as it didn’t lead to an advantage."
Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher shared similar views on Sky Sports, stating that the first yellow card was too harsh and issued too quickly by Kavanagh.
Referee Eligibility Rules and Kavanagh’s Neutrality
Confusion surrounds why Kavanagh, a native of Greater Manchester, was allowed to officiate a match involving Manchester City. The Premier League has rules that prevent referees from managing games involving clubs they are closely connected to, to avoid conflicts of interest.
For instance, Michael Oliver cannot referee matches involving Newcastle United or Sunderland because of his ties to Newcastle. Similarly, Australian referee Jarred Gillet is barred from overseeing Everton or Liverpool games due to his childhood support for Liverpool.
In contrast, Kavanagh supports Droylsden FC, a non-league team from Greater Manchester competing in the North West Counties League Premier Division. This affiliation classifies him as neutral according to official conflict-of-interest guidelines, allowing him to referee matches involving both Manchester City and Manchester United.
This approach mirrors the situation of former referee Anthony Taylor, who, despite being born in Manchester, supported non-league Altrincham. That allegiance enabled him to officiate games involving both Manchester clubs without restriction.
Liverpool’s Current Form and Upcoming Fixtures
The defeat against Manchester City dropped Liverpool to ninth place in the Premier League after six games. Under Iraola, the team has managed only two league wins so far this season. Their next challenge is an away match against Brentford, scheduled for Saturday.
- Match Date: October 18, 2026
- Result: Manchester City 3 - 0 Liverpool
- Gravenberch Sent Off: 62nd minute
- Liverpool Position: 9th in Premier League
- Next Match: Brentford vs Liverpool
