January 21st 2024.
Former football player Gary Neville has recently expressed his opinion on the ongoing issue of controversial decisions made by referees in the Premier League. He believes that it would be beneficial for clubs to work together with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in order to improve their performance.
Neville's frustration stems from the recent complaints made by Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, to the PGMOL about certain decisions made by referees. He has labelled this action as "embarrassing" and believes it sets a negative precedent for future issues.
The latest club to officially complain to the referees' governing body is Nottingham Forest, after their 3-2 defeat against Brentford on Saturday. Forest felt aggrieved by Brentford's opening goal, which came from a free-kick taken by Ivan Toney. The striker was seen moving the ball to a more favorable position, which according to Premier League rules, should have been considered a "serious missed incident."
This complaint adds to the numerous others made by clubs this season, such as Liverpool's complaint in September when they were denied a legal goal against Tottenham. The PGMOL has since started releasing audio for certain contentious incidents.
In addition to this, Arsenal have also recently written to the PGMOL regarding the treatment of their player Bukayo Saka, who is one of the most fouled players in the league. However, Neville believes that this public posturing is unnecessary and will not bring about any positive change. He suggests that it would be more productive for clubs to communicate with the PGMOL privately and work together to help improve the referees' performance.
Neville also acknowledges the pressure that referees are under at the moment and believes that it is in the clubs' best interests to support them rather than publicly criticize them. He urges clubs to refrain from "piling on" and instead work towards finding a solution.
In conclusion, Neville believes that it is time for clubs to rethink their approach in dealing with referee decisions and start working together with the PGMOL to bring about positive changes in the future.
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