FA to replace referee for Community Shield clash between Man City and Man Utd

The FA have been forced to name a new referee for the Community Shield clash between Manchester City and Manchester United.

Saturday's clash will be the curtain raiser ahead of the new season, with Pep Guardiola's side aiming to become the first side to win five straight Premier League titles, and FA Cup holders Manchester United looking to improve on their eighth place finish.

John Brooks was set to take charge of the match at Wembley, but has been forced to pull out just days before the clash, after suffering a minor injury.

The FA have now turned to Jarred Gillett - who was originally set to be the fourth official - to be the man in the middle on Saturday afternoon.

He will be joined by a team of assistant referees Adrian Holmes and Nick Greenhalgh, with Sam Barrott taking up the fourth official role, while Peter Bankes is on VAR with Sian Massey-Ellis as his assistant.

Manchester United had a poor record in games where Gillett was the referee last season - losing three and winning one.

Gillett was in charge of United's 4-0 hammering by Crystal Palace, 4-3 loss away at Chelsea, and a 3-1 defeat to Brighton.

He was also the VAR official who overruled Alejandro Garnacho's potential 88th minute winning goal against Arsenal last September - before the Gunners struck twice in extra-time to seal a 3-1 win.

Gillett, from Australia, became the Premier League's first foreign referee in September 2021.

Guardiola's side will be looking to get revenge on their city rivals after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Wembley back in May thanks to goals from Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

United will be without their new £52m signing Leny Yoro, who has been ruled out for three months after undergoing surgery on a foot injury.

City will look to avoid their fourth consecutive Community Shield defeat after losses to Leicester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in recent seasons.