The assistant referee who told Manchester City's players to thank the supporters who had paid £62 to watch their side beat Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday has been removed from duty for Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay between West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body that assigns referees and assistants to fixtures, appears to have punished John Brooks after he was caught on camera telling Joleon Lescott and Joe Hart: "They've paid 62 quid over there; go and see them."
His place will be taken by Dave Bryan, an experienced assistant but not a Fifa-level official, according to the Independent.
The PGMOL retains the right to change its officials at short notice if it sees fit.
On Sunday the Premier League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said he sympathised with City's fans for not taking up their full ticket allocation for the match, which their side won 2-0.
Scudamore told BBC 5 Live: "I think they are sending Arsenal Football Club a very clear message … Arsenal have clearly made a judgment and I think the Man City fans, in fairness, have done what they should do if they think it is too much and not turned up."
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