Sunderland AFC forced to issue an urgent statement in regards to the match officiating at Vitality stadium

Sunderland AFC forced to issue an urgent statement in regards to the match officiating at Vitality stadium

Sunderland AFC Official Club Statement
28 February 2026Sunderland AFC notes with serious concern the officiating decisions during today’s Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Our players and staff demonstrated tremendous professionalism and resilience throughout the contest, taking an early lead through Eliezer Mayenda and controlling large periods of the game. However, several key incidents materially affected the outcome and warrant formal comment.In the 18th minute, Enzo Le Fée was clearly pushed in the back by Alex Jiménez inside the penalty area—a challenge that former Premier League referee Mike Dean described as “a clear push in the back, a penalty all day.” Referee Jarred Gillett waved away the appeals, and VAR upheld the decision, classifying the contact as “normal.” We believe this was a significant error that denied us a legitimate opportunity to extend our lead at a crucial early stage.

Further concerns arose from Tyler Adams’ studs-up challenge on Granit Xhaka, which escaped a red card following VAR review, and the disallowance of a late goal for offside. These decisions, combined with inconsistent application of added time and free-kick awards, contributed to a pattern of contentious calls that undermined the fairness of the contest.While we respect the immense pressure referees face and acknowledge the demands of the modern game, we cannot ignore repeated instances where our club appears to have been disadvantaged by Mr. Gillett’s officiating. This is not an isolated occurrence, and it has eroded confidence among our players, staff, and supporters.

Sunderland AFC has therefore written to the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) requesting a full review of today’s performance. We formally ask that Jarred Gillett be removed from any future matches involving Sunderland AFC until such time as the relevant authorities can assure us of impartial and consistent officiating.

We remain fully committed to the values of fair play and will continue to support initiatives that improve refereeing standards across the Premier League. Our focus now turns to the next fixture, where we will strive to deliver another strong performance for our supporters.

Sunderland AFC
Stadium of Light