Photo via BBC Sport

The FA Cup final assistant ref whose life was turned upside down by tumour discovery

Top-tier official Dan Robathan experienced a sudden shift after working the FA Cup championship match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in May 2025. Initially dismissing his physical discomfort as routine athletic wear and tear, he eventually learned through medical testing that two benign growths were pressing against his spinal nerves.

Following urgent surgical intervention to remove one of the masses, the thirty-eight-year-old has faced significant hurdles regarding mobility, chronic discomfort, and adjusting to a disrupted career.