Philip Dowd was born on 26 January 1963 and is a retired English professional football referee who officiated primarily in the Premier League.
16 Facts About Phil Dowd
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Phil Dowd is based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and was a member of the Staffordshire Football Association.
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Phil Dowd began refereeing in local leagues in 1984, eventually officiating in the Staffordshire Senior League and Midland Football Alliance.
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Phil Dowd was appointed to The Football League list of assistant referees in 1992, before joining the League's full list of referees in 1997, aged 34.
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Phil Dowd was promoted to the Premier League list in 2001, his first match being a fixture between Fulham and Everton in December of that year.
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In 2006, Phil Dowd was the fourth official at that year's FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
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In 2009, Phil Dowd gave Manchester United star Wayne Rooney a second yellow and sent him off for throwing the ball at Phil Dowd out of anger.
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Phil Dowd issued a 50th-minute red card to Arsenal's Abou Diaby for violent conduct towards two Newcastle players following a challenge with Joey Barton.
9.
On 28 February 2010 Phil Dowd refereed the League Cup final between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium.
10.
Whilst Phil Dowd did award Villa a penalty kick, he elected not to punish Vidic; some commentators felt the offence qualified as a professional foul and therefore warranted a red card.
11.
Phil Dowd officiated the 2011 FA Community Shield on 7 August 2011 between Manchester City and Manchester United, the 160th Manchester derby, at London's Wembley Stadium.
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Phil Dowd issued seven yellow cards during the course of the game.
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Phil Dowd refereed the 2012 FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool, at Wembley Stadium on 5 May 2012.
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Phil Dowd was assisted by Stuart Burt and Andrew Garratt and Mike Jones was the fourth official.
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Phil Dowd described his appointment to the Cup final as an "honour and privilege".
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The fixture took place on the third anniversary of the death of his father, whom Phil Dowd said had always hoped to see his son referee a final of the FA Cup.