Man United news: Robinson ‘cannot fathom’ Ralf Rangnick news amid ‘bizarre’ verdict
Paul Robinson is bemused by Man United interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s “bizarre suggestion” for referees to train with Premier League clubs.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former England goalkeeper fears referees may develop bias if they spend too much time with players.
According to the Daily Mail‘s Mike Keegan (29 March), referees could soon start training with clubs, after a proposal from Rangnick at a meeting between managers and the PGMOL.
The idea is designed to bring players and referees closer together to improve the standards officiating in the Premier League.
Robinson “cannot fathom” how the relationship between referee and player would function.
“I just don’t get how it is going to work,” he told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs.
What are they going to do? Referee the 5-a-side training? It’s the most bizarre suggestion.
“I know referees go into clubs and talk to players at certain stages of the season. They get to know the players over a lunch and a coffee. But if the referees are training with the teams it becomes a friendship rather than a professional relationship.
“I just find the whole thing bizarre. How will it work?
“Players and referees are very different people. Referees need to have authority and an aura of discipline. I think that could be diminished. The more time referees spend with the players, would they develop bias? I just cannot fathom how it would work.”
In other news, a finance guru has claimed an independent regulator could ‘step in’ after Man United boardroom news.