WORLD Cup final referee Howard Webb will swap Soccer City in Johannesburg for Colchester United’s potential relegation clash with Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.
Webb, who refereed 2010 World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands in South Africa, took charge of the Tyne and Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland on Sunday but will drop down two divisions to take charge of the League One match.
Reports had suggested Webb was demoted because of a shoddy performance during that derby, which included a disallowed goal from the Magpies' Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse while the game was poised and 0-1 to Sunderland, who went on to win 0-3.
But a U’s spokesman said: “All Premier League referees are allocated one or two football league games per season.
“Our understanding is that this is a game which was set aside for Howard Webb before the Tyne and Wear derby at the weekend."
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