Andy D'Urso
D'Urso was promoted to the Football League list of referee's in 1994 and after 5 seasons he was promoted to the Premier League. In 2001 he was nominated for FIFA status and officiated his first international in May 2004 when the Republic of Ireland met Nigeria.
D'Urso has had two incidents which have spoiled his career. On 29 January 2000 while refereeing a game between Man United and Middlesbrough, D'Urso awarded Middlesbrough a penalty kick when Juninho was tackled by Jaap Stam. Upon awarding the kick, five Manchester United players (Roy Keane, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Jaap Stam and Gary Neville) chased D'Urso to object to the decision.
After being dropped from the 'Select Group' of referees by the F.A. in the summer of 2005. He also endured an incident at the St Mary's Stadium, in a match between Southampton and Blackburn Rovers on 21 August 2004. In the closing minutes of the game and having awarded a penalty-kick against Blackburn, the Rovers' captain and Scotland international, Barry Ferguson was seen by D'Urso to have kicked the ball away. D'Urso cautioned the player for delaying the restart by raising the card in his direction without confirming the player's identity. Ferguson had already been cautioned in the second half of the game and therefore had to have been sent from the field of play. Southampton eventually won the game 3-2, James Beattie converting the penalty.
Following the goal ,the fourth official, brought the situation to D'Urso's attention. D'Urso failed to act which enforced The Football Association to suspend D'Urso for 28 days from 27 August 2004. D'Urso successfully appealed against the decision to relegate him from the Select Group but he was not selected for a single Premiership match in the 2005-06 season.
Last season he officiated in 33 league games handing out 9 red and 111 yellow cards. This season he has refereed 21 games, showing 2 reds and 57 yellow cards.