Ex-Fifa official: This may be real reason for Newcastle controversies after new twist
Keith Hackett has suggested Newcastle United may have been on the wrong end of a number of controversial refereeing decisions because they are at the bottom of the table.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Mike Riley needs to appoint officials at the top of their game to oversee Newcastle games.
As quoted by Sky Sports last week (23 December), Eddie Howe revealed Newcastle had lodged an official complaint over refereeing standards and claimed VAR had been “diluted”.
They felt they were on the wrong end of contentious decisions in recent defeats to Leicester City, Liverpool and Man City.
The latest came in the 1-1 draw with Man United last night (27 December) with many fans feeling Cristiano Ronaldo should have been shown a red card for a challenge on Ryan Fraser.
“I had a discussion with fans and they don’t see them as human errors, they see them as an integrity issue,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I defended referees and insisted their integrity was never in doubt. They make mistakes but are honest brokers and are human.
“When they go to Newcastle is it because they are at the bottom that the focus and effort that is required is not being executed. The loss of concentration and awareness is creating errors.
“It’s incumbent upon the referee of that particular game to not see it as a top team v bottom team but as a Premier League game where they have to give 100 per cent.
“It’s like a holiday camp, there’s no accountability.
“Mike Riley knows the referees that are in form. Newcastle United need to have a run of referees that are deemed as being the best, don’t use it as a training ground.”
In other news, there has been a big update on Newcastle United signing a Spurs star after two sources update.