Three games into the season and Hughes wants referee summit
HUGHES was smouldering. Another week, another deeply contentious penalty decision and another defeat – but Stoke’s manager did not have the appetite to rant or rave. This, he explained, was something he foresaw.
‘I feared we would be penalised more readily than other teams,’ said Hughes, after his side’s defeat at Goodison Park. ‘It has happened to me before with teams, with the new directives or whatever you call them.
‘We are getting the thin edge of the wedge and being penalised. There was a similar incident in the Tottenham-Liverpool game. That wasn’t given.
‘Maybe because it was two high-profile teams on the TV and they don’t get them given against them.’
Following the furore against Manchester City, when Stoke were their own worst enemies, seven days on, Hughes was aghast that another of his defenders was deemed to have committed match-defining decision.
This time it was Phil Bardsley, deemed to have pushed Ashley Williams in the 50th minute. There were no major appeals from Everton’s players but referee Michael Oliver was adamant and pointed to the spot without a moment’s hesitation. Bardsley, said Hughes, was ‘very disappointed’.
The situation was exacerbated when Leighton Baines’ effort ended up in the net via the head of Stoke goalkeeper Shay Given. Such is Hughes’ discontent with the new rules, he wants an urgent summit with referees’ chief Mike Riley.
‘But would it make any difference?’ he asked. ‘I am not
too sure. There has to be consistency.
‘If that is how games are going to be refereed, we accept that – but it has to be across the board. I am sure there will be many incidents.
‘We have to consider zonal marking, which I have never done, or take certain individuals away from manmarking.
‘Hopefully it will settle down and everyone will revert to a bit of sanity.’
Hughes’ opposite number, Ronald Koeman, who has now made the best start by an Everton manager since 1994, with seven points from nine, had sympathy for Hughes.
‘It is the second time in a Stoke match the referee is giving