Referee of choice for play-off semi-final when Leeds travel to Norwich has sent off the Elland Road star this season

It sees Leeds take on Norwich City in the play-off semi-finals and Daniel Farke’s men take on the German’s old club. Leeds beat Norwich both home and away but by one goal.

Southampton beat Leeds last Saturday to finish fourth, which sees Russell Martin’s side struggle against West Brom. The Baggies beat Preston 3-0 on Saturday, which means Leeds go against Norwich.

The EFL today announced that Josh Smith will be the man in the middle for the first leg clash with Norwich. Smith refereed four of the Yorkshire club’s matches during the 2023–24 campaign.

Josh Smith has appointed referee as Leeds face Norwich on Sunday

Smith has refereed 35 matches this season, including four in the Premier League, but mostly in the Championship. He took charge of four Leeds games, including the opener against Cardiff.

A 2-2 draw saw Crysencio Summerville score in the dying moments to earn a point at Elland Road. Smith also refereed a 2-1 Championship win over Plymouth at home, as well as a defeat and a draw.

He oversaw our defeat to Preston in which Leeds were reduced to 10 men as Illan Meslier was sent off hard for a push on Preston’s Milutin Osmanjic, who threw himself onto the deck as Meslier pushed him.

The other game saw Leeds beat Hull City 3-1, the Whites scoring two late goals at Elland Road to finally get over the line against Hull’s Liam Rosenior, who has since been harshly dismissed by the Yorkshire outfit.

Smith also refereed two games with Norwich in 2023-24

The referee was responsible as Norwich suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Blackburn in November, a game before taking charge in Leeds’ 2-1 win over Plymouth, in which he sent off Blackburn’s Scott Wharton.

He was also given the reigns in the East Anglian derby between Ipswich and Norwich, which ended in a 2-2 draw at Portman Road in December. He knows both clubs well then and has the necessary experience.

Let’s hope Smith isn’t tempted to hand out an eighth red card of the season, having picked up seven already in his 35 games, an average of one every five games in the 2023-24 campaign.