IT’S TIME FOR A VIDEO REF
After another red-card howler, even top official Riley admits..
REFEREES’ chief Mike Riley has called for video technology to be trialled after the latest case of mistaken identity saw the wrong West Bromwich player sent off at Manchester City.
Gareth McAuley was dismissed after just 89 seconds of his side’s defeat for a foul on Wilfried Bony that was committed by team-mate Craig Dawson.
Referee Neil Swarbrick later apologised for the error while a furious West Brom manager Tony Pulis demanded the introduction of two manager challenges per game.
Swarbrick’s blunder is the third similar incident in a year. Last month Roger East dismissed Sunderland’s Wes Brown when John O’Shea brought down Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao, and Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs was sent off by Andre Marriner when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain handled a shot from Chelsea’s Eden Hazard last March.
Riley, general manager of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), acknowledged that now was the time to test replays.
‘Football as a whole has to look at how we can enhance refereeing performances through the use of technology,’ he said.
‘We’ve been open-minded to things like the goal- decision system which has made a great difference and is of benefit to referees in the Premier League.
‘We need to see what other technology can be used to get refereeing decisions more accurate.’
Riley, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, added that he had spoken to Swarbrick since his gaffe but would not confirm whether the referee would be selected for the next round of Premier League matches.
After defeat by Burnley and a Champions League exit in Barcelona, City ensured a miserable week ended on a high at a sunny Etihad Stadium.
In an encounter that often resembled a training ground match of attack versus defence, Bony’s first goal for the home side — a neat finish from close range — set them on their way on 27 minutes.
An horrendous defensive mixup allowed Fernando to tap in City’s 1,000th Premier League goal before the break and David Silva deflected substitute Stevan Jovetic’s low drive home to complete a dark afternoon for the visitors.
The win eased some of the pressure on boss Manuel Pellegrini amid reports he will be sacked if City end the season trophyless.
Ex- Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who started the match in place of the injured Yaya Toure, defended the Chilean.
‘He has been a pleasure to work with,’ the 36-year-old said. ‘He’s a very good manager and I don’t think there is any finger-pointing at any individual for the recent form.’
But Lampard, who will join sister club New York City FC at the end of the campaign, admitted questions may well be asked in the summer.
‘Judgments will be made at the end of the season and that is fair enough,’ he added.
Pellegrini dismissed claims that Chelsea would not surrender their six-point lead at the top. After joking: ‘Please, no ques- tions about the sack,’ he said: ‘I don’t think they (Chelsea) are a winning machine all the time.
‘I am sure from now until the end of the season every team will drop points. You never know what will happen when you have to play for another 24 points.’
MAN CITY (4-4-2): Hart 6; Zabaleta 7, Kompany 6, Mangala 6.5, Clichy 6.5; Navas 7, Fernando 7, Lampard 7 (Jovetic 65min, 6.5), Silva 8 (Milner 81); Bony 7.5 (Dzeko 78), Aguero 7.5. Subs not used: Sagna, Caballero, Fernandinho, Demichelis. Scorers: Bony 27, Fernando 40, Silva 77.
WEST BROM (4-1-4-1): Myhill 7; Dawson 4, McAuley 4, Lescott 6, Olsson 5; Baird 6; Sessegnon 6 (Mulumbu 89), Fletcher 7, Gardner 5.5, Morrison 6; Berahino 5 (Anichebe 86). Subs not used: Wisdom, Davidson, Pocognoli, Nabi, Rose.
Sent off: McAuley.
Man of the match: David Silva. Referee: Neil Swarbrick 2.