Who is the referee for Sunderland vs Leeds?
Dean Whitestone will be the referee when Sunderland face Leeds in the Championship at the Stadium of Light, and he’s one that the Black Cats are very familiar with this season.
He has only officiated two Sunderland matches during the current campaign, although both were action packed and full of incident.
Whitestone also upset a lot of Sunderland fans when he was last in charge, it must be said.
Anyway, who is Dean Whitestone and what is his record like when officiating Sunderland matches.
Who is the referee for Sunderland vs Leeds?
Dean Whitestone will take charge of his 14th Championship game of the season when Sunderland face Leeds at the Stadium of Light.
It will be the third time he has officiated both teams this season and neither Sunderland nor Leeds have lost yet this campaign when Whitestone has been the referee.
He will be assisted by Daniel Leach and Greg Read while Ed Duckworth will take Fourth Official duties.
Dean Whitestone stats (23/23 Season)
Championship Games: 13
Yellow Cards: 41
Red Cards: 1
Penalties Awarded: 1
Previous Dean Whitestone Sunderland games
Whitestone has been the referee for five Sunderland matches in total and he was a pretty bad omen up until recently.
He even has a presided over a Sunderland Wembley defeat, but he’s been a lot better luck for the Black Cats lately. Well, Patrick Roberts may not agree, but still…
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.
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.
Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham (Championship, 11 November 2021)
Sunderland were victorious the last time they were officiated by Whitestone, but he managed to enrage both teams during the game.
Blues boss Wayne Rooney was unhappy with him for wrongly awarding the corner from which Sunderland scored the opening goal, but his rage was nothing compared to that of Patrick Roberts.
The Sunderland winger was twice hacked down by Juninho Bacuna, needing lengthy treatment after the first. Bacuna escaped any kind of punishment, freeing him to do it again. Again he was not booked for it. Roberts reacted angrily and was immediately booked, as was Trai Hume for a challenge on Bacuna minutes later that was no worse than either of those on Roberts.
Dean Whitestone stats in Sunderland matches
Matches: 5
Sunderland wins: 2
Draws: 0
Sunderland defeats: 3
Sunderland players sent off: 0
Opposition players sent off: 1
Sunderland penalties awarded: 0
Opposition penalties awarded: 0
Dean Whitestone stats in Leeds matches
Matches: 9
Leeds wins: 2
Draws: 4
Leeds defeats: 3
Leeds players sent off: 0
Opposition players sent off: 3
Leeds penalties awarded: 0
Opposition penalties awarded: 2
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