West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League, London Stadium, Tuesday 30 December 2025, 7.30pm GMT

Referee: Michael Salisbury Assistant Referees: Marc Perry and Alex James Fourth Official: Tom Nield VAR: Stuart Attwell Assistant VAR: Edward Smart

Michael Salisbury has been confirmed as the referee for West Ham United’s Premier League fixture with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Salisbury has been part of the Select Group of Referees since the 2021/22 season, having overseen Northampton Town’s EFL League Two Play-Off final win over Exeter City in June 2020.

He has been the man in charge of seven previous West Ham fixtures, the first of which was a 3-1 defeat at Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round in March 2023.

Salisbury has refereed the Hammers once previously this season, in the 3-2 home Premier League win over Burnley on 8 November 2025 – one of six top-flight games he has officiated this season.

He will be assisted by Marc Perry and Alex James.

Perry is a veteran of over 300 Premier League appointments as an assistant referee, including on 12 occasions this season. Three of those dozen involved West Ham – away at Manchester City and Leeds United and home to Burnley.

James is new to the Premier League. He has assisted just twice at this level, in our home game with Crystal Palace in September and for Everton’s win at AFC Bournemouth in December.

Tom Nield is the fourth official.

The Yorkshireman has refereed in the EFL Championship this season and also served as fourth official for five Premier League matches in 2025/26.

The VAR duties will be overseen by Stuart Attwell, who will fill the role for the 17th time in the Premier League this season.

The 43-year-old became the-then youngest referee in Premier League history when, at 25, he took charge of Blackburn Rovers’ match against Hull City in August 2008.

He returned to the National List of Referees in 2012, but was promoted back to the Select Group for 2016/17 and took charge of his 600th fixture in all competitions when he refereed the 2024/25 FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Wembley.

Originally from Warwickshire, Attwell also held the whistle during Liverpool’s penalty-shootout win over Chelsea in the 2022 EFL Cup final, and oversaw Arsenal’s dramatic Community Shield victory over Manchester City in August 2023.

He will be assisted at Stockley Park by Edward Smart, who has been a VAR in the Premier League on 34 occasions, including our 1-1 draw at Manchester United in early December.