Bolton Wanderers news: Ian Evatt told to contact LMA after controversy takes new twist – Ex-Fifa official
Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt needs to get in touch with the League Managers Association if he wants fourth officials to change their approach, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee admitted it would be difficult to introduce a universal style of fourth officiating as no two officials are the same.
As quoted by the Manchester Evening News on Saturday (5 March), Evatt called for a consistent approach from fourth officials.
It comes after Bolton lodged a formal complaint about referee Sebastian Stockbridge for comments made during the 2-0 loss to MK Dons last month (26 February).
“Fourth officials have a job to do, that’s important,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“They need to concentrate on play, the law involves the fourth official, they can bring any acts of violence behind the referee’s back to his attention.
“He’s not there to have a constant dialogue with the managers, explaining the decisions of the on-field referee.
“I can understand why they might like that but there’s a point where, it’s great for a fourth official to confirm the referee got it right, but if he says he got it wrong he’s undermining his colleague.
“I agree that there should be a consistent approach to fourth officials in how they deal with it. Fourth officials are invariably referees and you never got two referees that are exactly the same.
“Some referees follow the laws of the game 100 per cent, others are more liberal.
“I would suggest he raises the issue with the LMA who have a line into the PGMOL.
“Because of different personalities and different approaches you’re not going to get a universal approach.
“I sympathise with what he’s saying because personalities are different.”
In other news, Bolton Wanderers are submitting an offer after Derby County cancelled a trial.