Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has left himself open to a Football Association charge after appearing to question the integrity of referee Lee Mason and his officials Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire/Press Association Images
geography lesson
Brendan Rodgers: I didn't mean to question integrity of referee
The Liverpool boss wasn’t happy after the defeat to Man City yesterday.
BRENDAN RODGERS HAS stood by his comments about referee Lee Mason following Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Thursday.
The Northern Irishman labelled the performance of the match officials as “horrendous” during his side’s St Stephen’s Day reverse, feeling particularly aggrieved by the decision to disallow a goal from winger Raheem Sterling with the score still at 0-0.
Advertisement
His words are set to be investigated by the Football Association, but Rodgers insists he was telling it as he saw it and would not be taking back the comments..
“I’m not one that is berating referees after games, I’m always respectful and I ask my staff to be respectful, on the pitch we’re never chasing fourth officials or anything on a match day,” he said.
“I’ve had a number of referees in here to help and support what they do. I think they know that when I come out and make a statement like I did, it was obviously emotional after the game of course, but it was something that I will speak honestly on. As I said, whatever action they will take, they will decide.
“I have to speak on behalf of the supporters of the club, a club that has an emotional investment for many many of millions of people throughout the world.”
In a particularly controversial excerpt, Rodgers questioned the appointment of Mason to referee the Premier League encounter as he is from nearby Bolton.
“In terms of geography, it wasn’t the case at all, I certainly wasn’t questioning the integrity of the referees,” he added.
“As I said before, I fully understand the job, it was more the logic of it, in terms of having a referee from that particular part of the world refereeing a game in Manchester, I wouldn’t suspect that Mike Dean from the Wirral has refereed many games for Liverpool over the years.”
Brendan Rodgers: I didn't mean to question integrity of referee
BRENDAN RODGERS HAS stood by his comments about referee Lee Mason following Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Thursday.
The Northern Irishman labelled the performance of the match officials as “horrendous” during his side’s St Stephen’s Day reverse, feeling particularly aggrieved by the decision to disallow a goal from winger Raheem Sterling with the score still at 0-0.
His words are set to be investigated by the Football Association, but Rodgers insists he was telling it as he saw it and would not be taking back the comments..
“I’m not one that is berating referees after games, I’m always respectful and I ask my staff to be respectful, on the pitch we’re never chasing fourth officials or anything on a match day,” he said.
“I’ve had a number of referees in here to help and support what they do. I think they know that when I come out and make a statement like I did, it was obviously emotional after the game of course, but it was something that I will speak honestly on. As I said, whatever action they will take, they will decide.
“I have to speak on behalf of the supporters of the club, a club that has an emotional investment for many many of millions of people throughout the world.”
In a particularly controversial excerpt, Rodgers questioned the appointment of Mason to referee the Premier League encounter as he is from nearby Bolton.
“As I said before, I fully understand the job, it was more the logic of it, in terms of having a referee from that particular part of the world refereeing a game in Manchester, I wouldn’t suspect that Mike Dean from the Wirral has refereed many games for Liverpool over the years.”
What was your favourite goal of 2013?
Cardiff City sack manager Malky Mackay
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Brendan Rodgers Football geography lesson Liverpool Premier League Ref Justice UK Football