Steve Bruce compiles a DVD on referees

Nov 20 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

STEVE Bruce’s simmering sense of injustice has prompted the Sunderland manager to compile a DVD highlighting inconsistencies in the decision-making of referees.

The Black Cats have been on the receiving end of two controversial decisions in their last two Premier League games when Kenwyne Jones was sent off for shoving West Ham defender Herita Ilunga and Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was only shown a yellow card for bringing down Darren Bent in the area.

Both decisions infuriated Bruce, and his mood was not helped when he watched Blackburn defender Pascal Chimbonda receive a yellow card from the same referee who sent off Jones, Andre Marriner, for the same offence the following weekend.

He said: “I have tried to speak with Keith Hackett and what infuriates us is that Andre Marriner sends off Kenwyne and I see last week where Chimbonda tries to swing a punch at a player and gets a yellow card. What’s the difference? He gets a yellow card.

“I have not spoken to Keith yet, I have been trying, but I will.

“I will send him a copy of the DVD of the incidents. It’s the consistency levels to blame for why we all go nuts. At the time I said Kenwyne should rightly be punished and he was sent off for pushing someone. Then someone throws a punch last week, hits him on the chin and gets a yellow card.

“I’d better be careful of Big Sam (Allardyce) because I’m talking about one of his players. I apologise to him, but I’m just trying to make a point. Pascal Chimbonda punched another player, he got a yellow card and it was the same referee.

“He’s free from suspension and I’ve asked for that to be cleared up.”