Saturday, September 29, 2012

Suarez Defends Premier League Referees

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez has refused to put the blame on referees regarding decisions that have gone against him this season.

Manager Brendan Rodgers yesterday revealed that he had spoken to Mike Riley, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd; irate with perceived mistreatment his players have been receiving this season. One of the northern Irish manager’s biggest gripes surrounded the incident at Anfield last Sunday, where the referee failed to award Suarez a penalty after a challenge from Manchester United’s Jonny Evans.

But the Uruguayan international has taken a more thoughtful approach, and has conceded that referees are tasked with a difficult enough job where mistakes can be made.

“There are times when the referee gets it right and others when he doesn't but that's all part and parcel of the game,” the forward told Sky Sports.

"It's happened in the last few games, like against Manchester United when the penalty shout on me wasn't given and then the one on (Antonio) Valencia was.

"But talking about it doesn't solve anything - the referee has a split second to see an incident. Let's just hope that it doesn't happen again in the future.”

Brendan Rodgers bemoaned a number of decisions that have gone against his side in the last week, particularly aggrieved with the decisions that saw Suarez’s penalty claim turned down and Jonjo Shelvey’s shown a red card.

No comments: