Who is the referee for Sunderland vs Birmingham?

A referee who has officiated Sunderland at Wembley will be in charge when Birmingham visit the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland will meet a familiar face when they face Birmingham on Saturday, with referee Dean Whitestone set to take charge.

The Black Cats will welcome Wayne Rooney’s side to the Stadium of Light for the early Championship kick-off as they attempt to return to winning ways.

Refereeing was a hot topic last week for Sunderland with a penalty and red card awarded in the goalless draw with Swansea, and officiating standards in England are certainly under the microscope in general right now.

So, who is Dean Whitestone and what is his record like when officiating Sunderland matches?

Who is the referee for Sunderland vs Birmingham?

Dean Whitestone is an experienced EFL referee and will be taking charge of his 11th Championship game of the season at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

He will be assisted by Mark Stevens and Alex James while James Bell will take on fourth official duties.

It’s probably fair to say that Whitestone is one of the more lenient referees in the Championship, with him averaging just three yellow cards per game this season.

He has also only issued one red card this season – a good decision that went in Sunderland’s favour actually.

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Dean Whitestone stats (23/23 Season)

Championship Games: 10
Yellow Cards: 31
Red Cards: 1
Penalties Awarded: 1

Dean Whitestone issues red card to Jack Colback in QPR vs Sunderland / IMAGO

Dean Whitestone record in Sunderland games

Whitestone has refereed Sunderland four times before and it has been something of a mixed bag, it would be fair to say. This will be his first visit to the Stadium of Light, though.

He has, though, officiated Sunderland at Wembley.

Burton Albion 2-1 Sunderland (League One, 15 September 2018)

Sunderland’s first introduction to Whitestone came during the dismal League One era. In mid-September of the first season at that level, the Black Cats headed to Burton Albion and it didn’t go well.

Jack Ross’ men never recovered from first half goals from Jamie Allen and Kyle McFadzean. Chris Maguire did half the arrears after the break, but it wasn’t enough.

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It was also the match in which Charlie Wyke injured himself after a positive start to his Sunderland career. He collided with Burton goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov just before half time and the resulting knee injury kept him out for much of the season.

Portsmouth (p)2-2 Sunderland (EFL Trophy Final, March 31 2019)

The next time Sunderland crossed paths with Whitestone was at Wembley, as they battled Portsmouth for the EFL Trophy.

It was a typically rollercoaster game that included a brilliant Aiden McGeady opener, a last-minute extra-time Sunderland equalizer, and ultimately penalty heartbreak.

Coventry 2-1 Sunderland (Championship, 25 February 2023)

With Whitestone getting a promotion to the Championship, it meant it took four years until he took charge of another Sunderland game.

When he did, it went much the same as the rest. In fact, eerily, Jamie Allen scored again against Sunderland, just as he did for Burton, in another 2-1 defeat.

Whitestone did come in for criticism that day, with many believing he missed two offences in the build-up to Allen’s opener. In the end, a late brilliant Amad Diallo consolation was all Sunderland had to show for their efforts due to Viktor Gyokeres’ winner.

QPR 1-3 Sunderland (Championship, 16 September 2023)

Sunderland’s most recent experience of Dean Whitestone has been a positive one. He was the man tasked with taking charge of the Black Cats’ visit to QPR this season.

After an early Rs opener from Kenneth Paal, the game turned on a refereeing decision. Former Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback scythed down Jobe Bellingham with a high tackle in the middle of the pitch and he rightly received his marching orders.

Goals from Jack Clarke, Dan Ballard and Abdoullah Ba subsequently handed Sunderland a well-deserved win. 

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