The EFL have confirmed Andy Davies will not referee Bristol City's trip to Luton next Tuesday.
On the same day Nigel Pearson was fined £5000 for comments made against the official, the EFL announced Davies would once again be the man in the middle less than a month after his hugely controversial performance in the defeat at home to QPR.
Manager Pearson was left seething following the 2-1 loss on December 30 and was later charged by the FA for his comments in which he suggested Davies should be refereeing in the park.
But Bristol Live understands Davies has been removed from the fixture as rules claim a referee cannot be appointed to the same team within four weeks unless it's absolutely necessary.
Davies was originally down to referee the fixture with Luton on Boxing Day before it was postponed due to a Covid outbreak among the Hatter's squad.
It will come as welcome news to Pearson who was heavily critical of Davies moments after Yoann Barbet scored a late winner for the Hoops.
He was particularly frustrated with the decision not to award Alex Scott a penalty and to award QPR a late corner that eventually led to the winner.
Pearson said after the game: "We came across a strong team and some dodgy refereeing. We should’ve had another penalty. The decisions were awful and I’ve told him that.
"I hope the next time we see him he’s on the park because that’s where he should be.
"How the assistant didn’t see it (the Scott penalty call). Look, we had it all on playing against 11 when we had 10 but the decisions just continued to be awful. It was a terrible performance by them (the officials).
"I’m not someone who moans a lot but let me tell you, that was awful today, and I told him as well."
Davies also dished out the first and only red card of his season when he sent off midfielder Andy King after two bookable offences.
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