Home News Columnists Neil Farrington
Who picks the refs?
Jan 25 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun
IF they can charge a manager for a minor mutual spat, but NOT for undermining the whole refereeing system, the FA are an aptly acronymed bunch.
Three days after a barney with Joe Kinnear which wasn’t so much handbags as a cosmetic purse, Hull boss Phil Brown delivered a genuine blow to football’s image . . .
By all but admitting that top-flight managers now have a say in who officiates their games.
“The last time I spoke to the Football Association’s referees’ chief Keith Hackett he said (Alan) Wiley would not be refereeing Hull City for a long time,” Brown said in the wake of defeat by Arsenal last Saturday night.
“He refereed us at Anfield and dropped a clanger that day that cost us two points.”
If there is one thing worse than Brown’s obvious belief he should have the right to pick and choose referees, it is the suggestion that Hackett would allow him to.
For that would set a precedent which would blight the game long after the Premier League’s Brown stain is removed.
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