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Official: Premier League referee appointed for Aston Villa vs Derby, demoted after mistake?

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The EFL have confirmed that Lee Mason will take charge of Aston Villa’s meeting with Derby County on Saturday – Harry Lennard and Ian Hussin will be his assistants while Matthew Donohue is the fourth official. The 47-year-old has mostly officiated Premier League games this season but has dropped down into the Championship after making some high-profile errors.

He admitted making an “honest mistake” when awarding West Bromwich Albion a penalty against Nottingham Forest on February 12 and failed to spot a Javier Hernandez handball for a West Ham United goal against Fulham on February 22.

This season, Mason has officiated 13 games in Premier League games, three in the Championship, one in League One, one in League Two, one in the FA Cup and one in the EFL Cup – 23 games in total. He’s awarded 67 yellow cards (2.9-per-game), two red cards (8.7%) and seven penalties (30%).

Mason has taken charge of any other Villa game this season. The last time he officiated a match for the Midlands outfit was three years ago – Manchester City 4-0 Aston Villa (March 5, 2016). The 47-year-old has refereed 31 games for Villa – they’ve won nine, drawn 12, lost 10, picked up 62 yellow cards, had only one red and had four penalties awarded.

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