Premier League confirm Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United referee decision as new rules explained

The Premier League have confirmed their opening round of referee appointments with Rob Jones to take charge of Leeds United’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

The Whites kick off their 2026/27 campaign at the City Ground on Saturday and there is optimism of an exciting season ahead. Daniel Farke’s side won four of their six pre-season friendlies, the latter a 4-0 thumping of German outfit FC Augsburg on Saturday.

Opening-weekend hosts Forest also enter the new season in good form, following back-to-back wins over Bayer Leverkusen and Brest last week. Both sides will be looking to avoid the relegation battle they were in last season with ambitions to climb the table.

Excitement is building ahead of the new season and the Premier League have now confirmed who will take charge of the City Ground clash, with experienced referee Jones the man in the middle. He will be assisted by Nick Greenhalgh and Alistair Nelson, with Gavin Ward as fourth official and Craig Pawson on VAR duties.

Jones took charge of 18 Premier League matches last season, blowing for 21.06 fouls and brandishing 4.17 yellow cards per game on average. That made him one of the more card-happy referees compared to others who were regularly in charge of top-flight matches.

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Two of those 18 Premier League games involved Leeds, and Farke’s side won neither. Jones was in charge for November’s 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa and a more promising 2-2 draw at Chelsea in February. He was also in the middle for August’s Carabao Cup penalty-shootout exit at Sheffield Wednesday.

Jones showed his tendency to brandish yellow cards in both of those top-flight games involving Leeds, particularly in that 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in which four players from each side were booked. Six were cautioned in the defeat to Villa, five of which were part of Farke’s side.

New Premier League rules

Jones will be the first referee to have increased powers during a Leeds game on Saturday. A number of new rules have been introduced to the Premier League ahead of the new campaign in a bid to tackle time-wasting tactics.

A notable new rule from a Leeds perspective surrounds the tactical timeouts that so often left Elland Road seething last season. This campaign, a trial will take place where if the game is stopped for a goalkeeper injury, the manager will have to nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch immediately and for at least one minute.

There will also be a 10-second time limit for substituted players to leave the field, with any delayed exit leading to the oncoming player having to wait until the first natural stoppage after one minute has passed. Referees will also use a five-second countdown for throw-ins or goal-kicks, after which an opponent throw-in or corner will be awarded respectively.

There will also be an increase to a previous rule, with an injured player who required on-pitch treatment having to leave the field for one minute - double the previous campaign’s 30 seconds. There will also be VAR reviews for when second yellow cards result in a sending off.