BURNLEY (AFP) - Kick-off in the Premier League match between Burnley and Newcastle on Monday (Nov 26) was delayed by 30 minutes after the referees' assessor collapsed in the tunnel at Turf Moor.

Eddie Wolstenholme was taken to hospital still conscious but referee Anthony Taylor and the Premier League decided to delay the start of the match from its scheduled 8pm local time (4am Singapore time) by half an hour to 8.30pm (4.30am Singapore time).

Assessors' reports play a part in deciding the allocation of referees for games, while providing match officials with feedback on their performance.

Wolstenholme was once a Premier League referee, who retired from officiating in 2003.

Both Newcastle, fresh from wins over Watford and Bournemouth, came into the game on nine points - just a point above the bottom three.