VINNY GROANS
Burnley boss: I don’t care if I’m fined... I’ll say what I think. The standard of refereeing has just not been good enough
VINCENT KOMPANY doesn’t care if he is fined after claiming the standard of refereeing “hasn’t been good enough this season”.
Kompany was sent off at Chelsea for disputing Lorenz Assignon’s controversial red card and penalty, and it was the latest in a long line of calls against Burnley.
Kompany acknowledges officials are under more scrutiny because of the introduction of VAR, but feels standards have slipped this season.
And he says he has no “issues” if he is fined for his criticism.
“I’ll keep saying what I think, I’m not shying away from it and I’ve said it to the referees themselves – refereeing hasn’t been good enough this season,” said the Burnley boss. “I’ve said that in a constructive way, understanding the fact it’s not easy for them. The scrutiny is massive, the pressure is bigger than it’s ever been on the officials.
“The addition of VAR and more opinions and more officials, doesn’t make it easy for them to do their jobs.
“But I came into this country and I said it as well at the beginning of last season that English refereeing was the best in the world – always. I felt common sense was always trying to be applied.
“You make a mistake and we all have a laugh about it and usually the traditional view is that it all evens itself out over the course of a season.
“This year, I haven’t felt like this. Where we are in the league doesn’t really matter for me, it’s not in that conversation.
“It’s just when I draw on my years of experience, there’s a lack of consistency and there’s probably a little reflection needed to make sure we improve the standards in our game.
“I’m not afraid to say that. I remember I saw the interview of my colleague, Chris Wilder, who I’m fond of and who I really respect, and he said he’s a hard-working Yorkshireman and he doesn’t want to be fined anymore.
“I haven’t got any issues with being fined. I just want it to be right. It’s not something I say in a vindictive way – you can see I’m not even as angry anymore. We’ve just got to get it right and, at this moment, it’s fallen short.”
Burnley’s 10 men produced their best display of the season to draw 2-2 at Chelsea and they are just four points below the safety line after taking five points from their last three games.
Kompany wants them to seize their chance ahead of tonight’s clash with Wolves at Turf Moor.
“All we’re asking is to have an opportunity,” he added. “So if between now and the end of the season, we have just one opportunity, that’s enough for us.”