Coventry boss Chris Coleman has requested a personal tribunal from the FA after being charged with improper conduct and / or bringing the game into disrepute, after comments about FA Cup referees.
Chris Coleman’s complaints concern the 2-0 FA Cup loss to Chelsea on the 7th March in which the Welshman claimed match official Steve Bennett was ‘smug’ and ‘very friendly’ towardsChelsea players.
“I was disappointed with him, as were my players – his attitude towards us and towards them,” Coleman claimed in post-match interviews.
This isn’t the first time this season that managers of Championship and smaller Premier League clubs have spoken out against referee favouritism towards bigger, more renowned teams.
West Bromwich Albion gaffer Tony Mowbray labelled referees ‘pally’ with big-name players and managers after defeat by Manchester United on 29 January in the league. And, after seeing Stoke defeated by Sunderland on 7 February, Potters manager Tony Pulis claimed some referees punish smaller clubs more harshly than their larger counterparts.
Of course, it can never be right to openly berate a referee, whether it be from the sidelines or in a post-match rant. Match officials deserve respect, as is the buzz-word around the FA at the moment.
Yet the trend to award crucial decisions in favour of the big four is one that should not be ignored. Up until a fortnight ago, how many penalties were awarded to the opposing team at Old Trafford? I can think of just one: the FA cup tie with Portsmouth last season, a game which ultimately cost Man United a treble.
A referee has one of the toughest jobs in the world and will never be perfect, we accept that. All we ask for in return for our support of the FA system is consistency from officials, whatever shape that may take.
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