# Kevin Friend

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English football referee (born 1971)

Kevin Friend Born Bristol, England [1] Full name Kevin Friend Born (1971-07-08) July 8, 1971 (age 54) Bristol, England[2] Years Role 2003–2022 Referee Referee

**Kevin Friend** (born 8 July 1971)[3] is a former professional [football](/source/Association_football) [referee](/source/Referee_(association_football)) based in [Leicester](/source/Leicester). He is a member of the [Leicestershire and Rutland County Football Association](/source/Leicestershire_and_Rutland_County_Football_Association).

His most notable appointments have been to referee the [2012 Community Shield](/source/2012_FA_Community_Shield), played at [Villa Park](/source/Villa_Park), the [2013 League Cup final](/source/2013_Football_League_Cup_final) which was held at [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium), and the [2019 FA Cup final](/source/2019_FA_Cup_final) which was also held at Wembley.

## Career

Friend started refereeing at the age of 14 in his home county of Leicestershire. He officiated in the [Leicestershire Senior League](/source/Leicestershire_Senior_League) and [Midland Football Alliance](/source/Midland_Football_Alliance) before being promoted to the National List of Referees, and later to the Select Group of Referees ahead of the [2009–10 season](/source/2009%E2%80%9310_in_English_football). His first Premier League fixture was on 20 September 2009: a 2–1 victory for [Wolverhampton Wanderers](/source/Wolverhampton_Wanderers_F.C.) over [Fulham](/source/Fulham_F.C.); Friend showed two yellow cards during his debut appointment in England's top-flight.

Friend issued his first Premier League red card on 15 December 2009 to [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.) captain [Lorik Cana](/source/Lorik_Cana) for a second bookable offence in his team's 2–0 defeat to [Aston Villa](/source/Aston_Villa_F.C.).

He refereed the 2009 [FA Vase](/source/FA_Vase) final at [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium) on 10 May between [Whitley Bay](/source/Whitley_Bay_F.C.) and [Glossop North End](/source/Glossop_North_End_A.F.C.), won 2–0 by the Bay.

During a [Football League One](/source/Football_League_One) match in 2010 between [Norwich City](/source/Norwich_City_F.C.) and [Milton Keynes Dons](/source/Milton_Keynes_Dons_F.C.) Friend issued 11 yellow cards, including two to Dons player [Aaron Wilbraham](/source/Aaron_Wilbraham).[4]

Friend showed a red card to [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.) defender [Wes Brown](/source/Wes_Brown) in a 2013 Premier League match against Stoke City, which the FA later rescinded.[5][6]

In 2016, Friend was controversially prevented from officiating a [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) match between [Stoke City](/source/Stoke_City_F.C.) and title contenders [Tottenham Hotspur](/source/Tottenham_Hotspur_F.C.), due to him being a supporter of fellow title challengers [Leicester City](/source/Leicester_City_F.C.).[7]

At the end of the [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_in_English_football) season, Friend retired from officiating, but will continue to work for PGMOL as manager of the Select Group 2 referees.[8]

### 2012 FA Community Shield

On 3 July 2012, it was announced that Friend would referee the [2012 FA Community Shield](/source/2012_FA_Community_Shield), played on 12 August at [Villa Park](/source/Villa_Park).[9] His assistants were Michael McDonough and Richard West, and [Anthony Taylor](/source/Anthony_Taylor_(referee)) was the fourth official.

[Chelsea](/source/Chelsea_F.C.) were defeated 3–2 by [Manchester City](/source/Manchester_City_F.C.). [Branislav Ivanović](/source/Branislav_Ivanovi%C4%87) was sent off for the Blues for a high challenge towards the end of the first half. Ivanović did not serve any subsequent suspension, however, after FA rule changes regarding pre-season fixtures.[10]

### 2013 League Cup final

Friend refereed the [2013 League Cup final](/source/2013_Football_League_Cup_final) at [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium) on 24 February. The match was contested by [League 2](/source/EFL_League_Two)'s [Bradford City](/source/Bradford_City_A.F.C.) and [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) [Swansea City](/source/Swansea_City_A.F.C.).

Swansea won the final 5–0.[11] An incident early in the second-half, when the Premier League side were already 3–0 up, saw Friend adjudge Bradford goalkeeper [Matt Duke](/source/Matt_Duke) to have committed a [professional foul](/source/Professional_foul). The official dismissed Duke and awarded Swansea a [penalty kick](/source/Penalty_kick_(association_football)), which was converted by [Jonathan de Guzmán](/source/Jonathan_de_Guzm%C3%A1n); he also scored again in the 90th minute. The other Swansea goals came courtesy of [Nathan Dyer](/source/Nathan_Dyer) (2) and [Michu](/source/Michu).[12]

### 2019 FA Cup final

Friend refereed the [2019 FA Cup final](/source/2019_FA_Cup_final) at [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium) on 18 May 2019. The match was contested between [Manchester City](/source/Manchester_City_F.C.) and [Watford](/source/Watford_F.C.), with Manchester City winning the match 6–0.

## Statistics

Season Games Total per game Total per game 2003–04 27 98 3.63 4 0.15 2004–05 37 107 2.89 7 0.19 2005–06 21 45 2.14 2 0.09 2006–07 34 87 2.56 6 0.18 2007–08 41 100 2.44 11 0.27 2008–09 46 124 2.69 6 0.13 2009–10 34 133 3.91 7 0.21 2010–11 33 116 3.52 7 0.21 2011–12 33 120 3.64 3 0.09 2012–13 34 120 3.53 3 0.09 2013–14 31 98 3.16 1 0.03 2014–15 35 141 4.03 5 0.14 2015–16 31 100 3.23 6 0.06 2016–17 32 127 3.97 2 0.06 2017–18 33 66 2.00 1 0.03 2018–19 39 139 3.56 3 0.08 2019–20 33 89 2.70 8 0.24 2020–21 31 74 2.39 3 0.10 2021–22 28 109 3.89 2 0.07

Statistics are for all competitions as of 18 May 2019. No records are available prior to 2003–04.[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Football: Leicester referee Kevin Friend can't wait to blow whistle on Capital One Cup final"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130224105557/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Football-Leicester-referee-Kevin-Friend-t-wait/story-18220794-detail/story.html#axzz2LYPQvCGZ). This is Leicestershire. 22 February 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Football-Leicester-referee-Kevin-Friend-t-wait/story-18220794-detail/story.html#axzz2LYPQvCGZ) on 24 February 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Football: Leicester referee Kevin Friend can't wait to blow whistle on Capital One Cup final"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130224105557/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Football-Leicester-referee-Kevin-Friend-t-wait/story-18220794-detail/story.html#axzz2LYPQvCGZ). This is Leicestershire. 22 February 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Football-Leicester-referee-Kevin-Friend-t-wait/story-18220794-detail/story.html#axzz2LYPQvCGZ) on 24 February 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-flprofile_3-0)** [Birthdate](http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RefereeProfilesDetail/0,,10794~628215,00.html) confirmation at [the Football League](/source/The_Football_League) official website. Retrieved on 26 March 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080828021214/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/RefereeProfilesDetail/0,,10794~628215,00.html) 28 August 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["The Times & The Sunday Times"](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article7094365.ece). Timesonline.co.uk. 19 August 1919. Retrieved 19 August 2019.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["BBC Sport — Stoke v Sunderland: Gus Poyet wants apology after red card"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25072028). BBC Sport. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140311015043/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25072028) from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Owen Phillips. ["BBC Sport — Stoke City 2-0 Sunderland"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24969017). BBC Sport. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141130233927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24969017) from the original on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Kevin Friend: Leicester-based referee taken off Tottenham game"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36042805). BBC. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Wallace, Sam (21 June 2022). ["Exclusive: Premier League facing shortfall of experienced referees as Kevin Friend steps down"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/06/21/exclusive-premier-league-facing-shortfall-experienced-referees/). *The Telegraph*. Retrieved 7 September 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["A Friend in me"](http://www.thefa.com/Competitions/FACompetitions/TheFACommunityShield/FAMatchCentre/2012/chelsea-manchester-city/previews/villa-park-kevin-friend-referee.aspx). The FA.com. 12 August 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120708224953/http://www.thefa.com/Competitions/FACompetitions/TheFACommunityShield/FAMatchCentre/2012/chelsea-manchester-city/previews/villa-park-kevin-friend-referee.aspx) from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Ivanovic spared suspension for Community Shield red"](http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/ivanovic-spared-suspension-community-shield-red-090956763.html). Yahoo! Europsort. 13 August 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120816231520/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/ivanovic-spared-suspension-community-shield-red-090956763.html) from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Bantams battered by Swans"](http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/359954/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739). ESPN. 25 February 2013. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130227021112/http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/359954/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739) from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Bradford 0 – 5 Swansea"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21489673). BBC Sport. 24 February 2013. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160122051138/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21489673) from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Kevin Friend- Latest Football Betting Odds – Soccer Base"](http://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=865).

## External links

- [Kevin Friend Profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20110913233139/http://refworld.com/referee/136/0/kevin-friend) at Refworld.com

- [\[1\]](https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=865&season_id=139) at [Soccerbase](/source/Soccerbase).com

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kevin Friend](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Friend) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Friend?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.