Ex-Premier League referee: Ian Evatt facing FA action after Bolton Wanderers controversy analysed
Ian Evatt may have to attend an “in-person hearing” after Bolton Wanderers complained about the referee following their 2-0 defeat to MK Dons on Saturday (26 February).
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Bolton’s official complaint about Sebastien Stockbridge.
As relayed by the Bolton News on Sunday (27 February), Evatt revealed Stockbridge had said something inappropriate in the first half and the club would go through the proper channels to complain.
The Bolton boss also claimed the referee’s general performance was “not up to scratch”.
“First of all, this is now in the public domain,” Hackett told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“There are channels in which a manager can express his concerns if a referee is saying something untoward.
“What that manager has got to have, is proof of what that referee has said. Without proof, nothing will happen.
“What he’s also got to remember is the referee, two assistant referees and fourth official are all mic’d up and can hear every word the referee has said. That doesn’t mean to say he should be allowed to say what he wants.
“How has the manager got that information? I wonder where he’s got that from?
“In the modern game, referees and match officials have to be very careful of what they say. A fourth official can be dragged into a debate with a manager and can be misconstrued.
“When a referee approaches a player he has to be restrained and above board. It’s more so now than in the modern game than it was in my era.
“We had this before with Chelsea accusing Mark Clattenburg. I remember he was exonerated and they also had a bit of a dig at Graham Poll.
“At that point, we made clear that the referees need to be careful with their management style. Even if they are frustrated, they need to take great care with what they say and how they say it.
“What will happen now is, the FA are likely to write to him to ask for his observations and they will write to all the match officials to ask for their views.
“If it goes to an in-person hearing they will all have to attend.”
In other news, Bolton Wanderers are submitting an offer after Derby County cancelled a trial.