Man United news: Expert demands rule change as Old Trafford controversy analysed
Kevin Phillips has called on the FA to introduce “harsher punishment” after Man United were charged for their players’ actions against Brighton.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League striker revealed he wants to see a new “rule or condition” brought in to tackle player behaviour towards referees.
On Wednesday (16 February), the FA charged Manchester United after their players surrounded referee Peter Bankes in their 2-0 win over Brighton.
Seagulls defender Lewis Dunk was sent off shortly after the fracas – a decision Graham Potter feels was influenced by United’s players.
As quoted by the Manchester Evening News (16 February), the Brighton manager urged officials to make calls “independently”.
When asked by Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs for his assessment of Tuesday’s events, Phillips said: “There needs to be a harsher punishment.
“It’s never going to stop if it’s a nominal charge to Manchester United. It’s nothing. Even if the club made the players pay a fine out of their wages, it wouldn’t stop. They probably wouldn’t even notice.
“The FA have to come up with another idea or concept as to how to punish teams for doing this.
“It needs to stop happening. We see it all the time. It’s difficult though because players will naturally react to referees decisions.
“A little fine will make no difference whatsoever though. They need to bring in a rule or a condition which will make players think twice about surrounding the referee.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed Ralf Rangnick has ‘compromised his position’ at Man United after a reveal from Fabrizio Romano.