Ruebyn Ricardo returns as referee for Birmingham City match this weekend

Ruebyn Ricardo will officiate a Birmingham City match this weekend for the first time since he was in charge during the contentious 3-2 loss to Hull City last October.

Ricardo has been designated as the referee for the Blues’ season opener against Swansea City in the Carabao Cup, with Jacob Lehane and Matthew Sowerby serving as his assistants, and Jacob Miles as the fourth official.

This will mark the first occasion that Ricardo has refereed a Blues match since last October, when he issued 10 yellow cards and sent off Jack Robinson in a heated encounter at St Andrew’s against Hull.

A furious altercation erupted following two significant challenges just before half-time, one from each team, leading to Ricardo booking Blues striker Jay Stansfield and Hull’s Joe Gelhardt, as well as Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic and Blues coach Tom Huddlestone.

As a result of the incident, Blues were fined £115,000, and third-choice goalkeeper Brad Mayo was later charged after allegedly 'acting in an improper manner and/or using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the match official/s around the tunnel area after the final whistle.' However, the main focus of the match was Robinson’s dismissal.

The seasoned defender received a yellow card from Ricardo just before the hour mark, which was quickly escalated to a red card.

Robinson was sent off for foul and abusive language and subsequently served a three-match suspension.

Ricardo officiated a total of 29 matches last season, predominantly in the Championship, issuing 137 yellow cards and five red cards. Source: Birmingham Live