Roy’s sick of bad decisions

Mar 15 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

ROY Keane believes refereeing decisions have cost Sunderland six Premier League points this season and that their rough treatment from officialdom has even extended to the Black Cats’ youth team.

Keane has largely been tight-lipped about the performance of officials since switching to management. But his patience snapped when Sunderland were denied a late equaliser at home to Aston Villa in December and now the floodgates appear to have opened.

Sunderland had a goal disallowed two minutes from time in Tuesday’s FA Youth Cup semi-final second leg at Manchester City, denying them the opportunity to take the tie into extra-time.

“We are not getting the rub of the green against any club,” Keane said. “Blackburn, Villa, Derby, Reading ... we don’t seem to get decisions with any referees. Even the youth team had a good goal ruled out in the last minute.”

The Irishman is still bitter Blackburn Rovers were awarded a disputed penalty when Sunderland lost at Ewood Park, that Danny Collins’ potential equaliser and Michael Chopra’s apparent winner were chalked off against Villa and Derby County, and that Stephen Hunt’s winner was allowed at Reading despite not crossing the line. With the extra six points Sunderland would top the pack of teams fighting relegation.

After their Ewood meeting, Blackburn’s Mark Hughes reassured his former Manchester United team-mate the bad decisions would even out, but Keane no longer believes him. “I thought Sparky was right but I have abandoned that theory now,” he said. “I cannot remember one decision where we have thought, ‘We are a bit lucky with that one’ – none. We are not getting the benefit of any sort of decision, I have enough evidence to show that. I am very tempted to register an official complaint.

“After the Derby game I went to see the referee to say the goal was onside and he said, ‘Well, Smartie told me at half-time I got the call right’. I said, ‘Excuse me, who is Smartie?’ and he said, ‘John Smart’ or someone like that from Sky. The assistant who gave it offside said, ‘A Derby official said I got it right at half-time and why would he lie to me?’ If the referee is being influenced by Smarties and the assistant by Derby officials, what chance have you got?”

Having played for a “big club” in Manchester United, Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley does not believe referees are biased. “I don’t think so,” he said. “Referees are referees. I don’t think many have played the game, but that’s the way it is.”