No nonsense official to referee the FA Cup final

Only one man, Peter Willis, has ever dismissed a player during the FA Cup final, but Rob Styles could become the second if recent fixtures between Arsenal and Manchester United are any guide.

The Waterlooville official was yesterday confirmed as referee for the FA Cup final between the two bitter rivals on 21 May. In the two league meetings between the clubs this season Mikaël Silvestre was sent off at Highbury and Rio Ferdinand should have been dismissed at Old Trafford.

The previous season, Patrick Vieira received a red card at Old Trafford, the season before Sol Campbell took an early bath at Highbury. There have also been a plethora of yellow cards.

Should the need to wave a red card arise Styles is unlikely to shirk it. So far this season he has dismissed six players in 19 Premier League games, a figure matched only by Mike Riley, the referee who failed to send off Ferdinand at Old Trafford. In the past Styles has also dismissed a player at Wembley - in a promotion play-off final.

The player Willis sent off was Kevin Moran, of Manchester United, for a professional foul in the 1985 final. Ten-man United still won, defeating Everton 1-0.