Nobby: Why he must listen to Rafa
NEWCASTLE United boss Rafa Benitez has been hit with a misconduct charge by the FA.
The charge relates to comments made about Huddersfield-born referee Andrew Madley before the home clash with Preston North End.
The decision to appoint Madley had been widely questioned by football fans who felt his appointment was unsuitable given his hometown club’s involvement in the automatic promotion race.
A Newcastle statement read today: “It is alleged his comments were improper and/or brought the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3(1).
“He has until 6.00 on Tuesday, May 9 to respond to the charge.”
Benitez had said: “I was really surprised with that situation. We have to trust the referees.
“We have not had a lot of luck with them.
“I always trust the referees and hopefully everything will be fine and we are not talking about the officials at the end of the game.”
Newcastle have been on the end of awful decisions from EFL referees this season. Not least Keith Stroud’s blooper during the home game with Burton Albion when it appeared he did not understand the rule on encroachment and disallowed Matt Ritchie’s successful penalty before failing to order a retake.
He was subsequently left out of EFL games that weekend.
Newcastle have also been denied clear-cut penalties and had good goals chalked off for offside.
The Magpies also had two red cards for Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett overturned after a farcical display by referee Steve Martin in the defeat at Nottingham Forest in December.