Rafa Benitez during yesterday’s press conference admitted he was a little surprised that a referee born in Huddersfield, Andrew Madley, gets to referee the crucial match on Monday night between Newcastle and Preston.
Huddersfield and Reading are two teams who can still overtake Newcastle if we keep dropping points like we have done in the last three games – we’ve dropped 8 points in those three games.
🙁
Rafa does point put out that doesn’t happen in Spain because of the obvious potential bias that’s there for all to see.
Andrew Madley – Huddersfield-born referee on Monday night
The news is that Newcastle contacted the EFL to have an alternative referee appointed, but they didn’t agree there was a problem.
Why not?
Madley has never taken charge of a Huddersfield game in his career – so why start now – it’s more amateurish stuff going on in the lower leagues.
It also puts some pressure on 33 year-old Madley, but he seems to be a very good up-and-coming referee.
This is what Rafa said yesterday:
“I was really surprised with that situation,”
“We have to trust the referees.” “We have not had a lot of luck with them.”
“I always trust the referees and hopefully everything will be fine and we are not talking about the referees at the end of the game.”
“We were asking the EFL whether they could make a change and they say that they are happy with it and we have to carry on.”
“We don’t have any problem. We will do our best to avoid a situation that nobody will understand.”
“We are not complaining about the referees in press conference, or interviews, or whatever.”
“In Spain this thing doesn’t happen when you have a referee from a city that is more or less close in the table.”
“Normally they don’t referee those games.”
Those are fair and balanced words from Rafa.
We don’t want to make too much of this, but it is a surprising selection just because the possibility of a referee being biased against us will be there.
Not that it will ever happen of course.
But it would not be the first time a referee has seemed to be biased against us this season.
But let’s hope nothing daft happens like happened at Nottingham Forest last year – if it does it’s the total responsibility of the EFL.
Comments welcome.
7 comments so far
toontaff2
Apr 22, 2017 at 8:04 AM
Comment #1The EFL realised they meant to appoint his brother, Bobby!
Jib
Apr 22, 2017 at 8:06 AM
Comment #2Having had it pointed out to them.
The EFL would be well advised to change the officials.
Whether he is impartial or not is irrelevant.
There are now publicly expressed doubts.
If he’s not at SJP – no brickbats can be thrown.
lesh
Apr 22, 2017 at 8:08 AM
Comment #3Stockdale’s goals were unfortunate and will make the Brighton players very nervous in their final games of the season and they’ll feel the pressure – especially if we win on Monday
As far as Madley’s concerned, the powers that be wouldn’t agree to an alternative because they’d be perceived as acknowledging that they have no confidence in the impartiality of match officials.
Ordinarily and if both clubs had little or nothing to lose one would say that Madley’s appointment to our next game was unfortunate but in this instance, both us and Huddersfield have so much to lose by a dubious decision. He really should’ve been switched to a game that doesn’t affect his home-town club.
But, that’s an arrogant bureaucracy for you so we’ll just have to hammer Preston
lesh
Apr 22, 2017 at 8:11 AM
Comment #4toontaff2
You surely meant Richard with Judy on the line?
toontaff2
Apr 22, 2017 at 8:11 AM
Comment #54 red cards, 3 disallowed goals, 2 penalties not given and a partridge in a pear tree…………….
Tsunki
Apr 22, 2017 at 8:13 AM
Comment #6“We don’t have any problem. We will do our best to avoid a situation that nobody will understand.”
He he he
magscar
Apr 22, 2017 at 8:21 AM
Comment #7Morning all
Posted on last thread but can’t recall how to cut and paste so if you are interested its back there. Another thing that hasn’t changed – me missing boat !!