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Jon Moss is an English referee who officiates in the Barclays Premier League and will referee the 2015 FA Cup Final. He most definitely is not a former drummer in an 80s pop band.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He’s Refereeing the 2015 FA Cup Final
Moss enjoys the view at Selhurst Park (Getty)
It was announced on April 21st that Jon Moss will officiate the 2015 FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Aston Villa. He told the FA’s website that, “It was a complete surprise. When I got the call it was the realization of a dream really. For any referee it is the pinnacle of your career,”
Moss wasn’t the only one surprised at his selection. Former referee Mark Halsey – who never officiated an FA Cup Final himself – branded Moss’s appointment “a joke”, adding: “He’s made too many high profile mistakes this season already.”
Halsey thinks Mark Clattenburg should referee the final.
2. He Earned Around $145,000 This Season
Laying down the law (Getty)
Select Group Referees, of which Jon Moss is one, are paid an annual salary of $100,000 in addition to $1,500 per game they officiate. That means Moss earned approximately $145,000 this year alone.
That’s around four times the UK’s average annual salary, but still less than Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez earns in a single week.
3.He’s Made a lot of Mistakes
Moss, spraying Santi Cazorla in the face (Getty)
As Mark Halsey pointed out, Moss has been prone to the odd gaff this season, not least two incorrectly awarded penalties during Man City’s home game against Tottenham Hostpur.
By far his most entertaining gaff, however, was spraying vanishing foam in Santi Cazorla’s face:
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4. He Played for Sunderland and Milwall in His Youth
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Moss was a decent player himself in his youth, winning a soccer scholarship to Central Connecticut State University. He also played for Sunderland and Millwall’s academy sides, before moving into teaching.
Having been born and raised in Sunderland, as well as playing for their youth side, we suspect Moss is a Black Cats fan.
5. He was Definitely not the Drummer in Culture Club
The other Jon Moss (second from left) (Getty)
The man you’ll see keeping order on Wembley’s hallowed turf this Saturday was not the drummer in the 80s pop band Culture Club, nor has he ever been in a relationship with Boy George.
Though we could be wrong.