Blackburn's Warnock wants
error-prone refs suspended
tribalfooball.com - March 18, 2007
Blackburn Rovers fullback Stephen Warnock is demanding suspensions
for error-prone refs after Saturday's defeat against West
Ham.
Warnock feels referees must be made more accountable for their
decisions after Howard Webb gave West Ham a ridiculous' penalty and
then, on linesman Jim Devine's say-so, awarded them a winning goal
when the ball never crossed the line.
Webb enraged Rovers even further by issuing a second yellow card to
David Bentley four minutes into stoppage time for deliberate
handball.
It was his second caution and he now misses his side's next match -
the small matter of a trip to Manchester United. That was the last
straw for Warnock, who fumed: "Refs are supposed to be
professionals, earning a professional wage.
"But they feel that if they say sorry it's like admitting they've
done wrong and they could lose a top game next time. Yet that's
exactly what should happen. Bents is going to be suspended for one
game because of one of this referee's bad decisions. Refs don't
miss a game, though, when they do far worse things - and they
should do.
"When Bents is sitting out our game against Manchester United, that
ref will be running around on some pitch without a care in the
world. They are getting away with murder. I think it's ridiculous.
His performance just sums up what we're up against with a lot of
referees these days. We see the same thing time and time
again.
"The number of mistakes he made was shocking but he's not going to
apologise for what he has done. I've always said I don't really
agree with goal-line technology, yet after this I'm starting to
change my mind. It was blatantly obvious their second goal should
never have been given. It was never over the line. There was also a
handball by Lee Bowyer in it and Carlos Tevez was in an offside
position.
"If the officials can't pick up on one of those things between
them, you wonder what game they are watching.
"I could clearly see Tevez stood on the line. He was right next to
me and I had a clear view of the ball.
"When the ref blew his whistle, we all thought it was for a
free-kick to us for handball or offside. It was only when the West
Ham players ran to celebrate on the side of the pitch we realised
he'd given a goal.
"Their penalty was almost as bad. Brett Emerton tried to get a
block in and Tevez fell over his own feet. You could see him kick
his own standing leg and the replays proved that.
"It wasn't Tevez's fault. He didn't dive. He couldn't stay up after
getting in a tangle. But there was no way Brett made any contact
with him. You can't give a penalty unless you're pretty sure about
it. Or at least you shouldn't do. It was another shocking
decision.
"It all comes back to the old scenario. They haven't played the
game at this level, so they don't understand it."
Agree ref Standard really drop alot this
season