Reading FC

Brian McDermott claims that Reading FC have now been told twice by officials that his players are not appealing vehemently enough to get the benefit of contentious decisions
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Reading FC penalised for good behaviour

October 05, 2012

Brian McDermott claims that Reading have now been told twice by officials that his players are not appealing vehemently enough to get the benefit of contentious decisions.

He was shocked to hear that last Saturday’s fourth official Gavin Ward had told Royals goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo that Newcastle United’s controversial equaliser last Saturday might have been over-ruled if more of his side had protested that goalscorer Demba Ba had handled the ball.

McDermott, though, insists that he has no plans to ask his players to round on the referee or his assistants if a big decision fails to go their way at Swansea City tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

Clearly still aggrieved by the final goal in Reading’s 2-2 draw at Madejski Stadium, McDermott said: “I feel a sense of injustice – it shouldn’t have stood.

“My concern also is that the match delegate after the Chelsea game said that our players didn’t appeal for the offside goal (Royals lost 4-2).

“And the fourth official said to my goalkeeping coach that only two of my players appealed against Newcastle.

“That was also the fourth official who refereed our game at Cardiff where we got fined considerably for not controlling our players.

“It’s difficult to take, what are we saying? If we appeal then we might get one or two? The last thing we want is for players to referee the game.

“We have to let the officials get on with their jobs. The way forward for us is to take the officials out of the equation. To stop crosses, do our jobs and anything else we can affect.”

McDermott also believes that if it was a top-four club that had a decision like that go against them then the story would have been plastered all over the national news.

He added: “I think if it was another team and not Reading then a lot would have been made about it.”

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Most recent user comments 3 of 3

McD should feel aggrieved!!! Both decisions were totally ridiculous!!

Missing out on the first win of the season because of weak refereeing last week was totally galling!

We need a convincing win tomorrow....I think we can do it.

Fishlips
05/10/2012 at 14:47

There's also a distinct possibility that the offence would've been 'spotted' if it were commited against one of the big boys.

Just to pre-empt those who claim that officials never change their mind. Yes they do. I recall Fulham being awarded a penalty against Arsenal for a foul by the pre-Chelsea Ashley Cole. Several of the Arsenal players protested vehemently (to put in mildly) and the decision was reversed. Also, when Jay Boothroyd's shot smashed against the underside of the bar and down onto the goal line for Cardiff, at the Madstad, the linesmen didn't seem minded to award a goal until Boothroyd and a particularly animated Craig Bellamy advanced on him. Did he genuinely think it was over the line, or did he cave in to pressure?