Senior ref criticizes methods of Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger
Ian Blanchard, the English FA's senior national game referee manager, has said that Premier League managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are using the wrong channels to address their problems with
referees.
Blanchard's comments follow an incident during Saturday's match between Arsenal and Sunderland, where Wenger is alleged to have pushed Martin Atkinson, the fourth official, after Darren Bent's late equaliser
on Wenger's team.
“You have to realise football is passionate and people want to win a game at all costs. Sometimes managers will have a point to make," said Blanchard, speaking at the launch of the FA's Football Needs
campaign to recruit new coaches and referees.
"There is a process they can go through. My only thought is that if they followed that process and procedure rather than going into the media then we would be able to sort things out quickly."
New rules after league games
Blanchard added that while he can sympathize with the reactions of managers to refereeing decisions, he also believes that the rules protecting referees after league encounters should be altered.
“For 30 minutes after the game there should be no contact. Thereafter every referee has to be approachable after that. Sometimes managers, rather than just talk to the media and complain, if they went
through appropriate channels we would listen to them more than we would do otherwise.”
Fierce comments from Premier League managers on the performance of referees have been subject to penalties by the FA in recent seasons.
Ferguson was fined £20,000 for telling the press that referee Alan Wiley lacked the necessary fitness to carry out his job during last season.
Last week, Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce accused Wenger of trying to influence referees through the media to avoid strong challenges against his players.
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