Lewis Smith will become the youngest referee of a Premier League match this campaign when he officiates Fulham’s home clash against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Smith, 30, will take charge of the clash at Craven Cottage to surpass Sam Barrott as the youngest referee in England’s top-flight this campaign.
Barrott — who has officiated 11 Premier League matches this term — will celebrate his 31st birthday in March while Smith’s birthday is not until August.
Smith has refereed 27 matches across the EFL this season, including seven matches in the Championship.
Smith and Barrott are among the six referees outside of PGMOL’s select group. to take charge of a Premier League match this season, alongside Sam Allison, Bobby Madley, Josh Smith and Rebecca Welch.
The PGMOL is the board responsible for professional match officials in England and the select group 1 is its group of 20 full-time referees.
Current Premier League referee Michael Oliver, 38, became the youngest person to officiate a top-flight match in England when he took charge of Fulham’s game against Portsmouth in January 2010, when he was aged 25.
(Tim Markland/PA Images via Getty Images)
