Premier League legend Alan Shearer is calling for big changes after witnessing the controversy during West Ham United’s game against Manchester United.
The Hammers were harshly beaten 2-0 by Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils the last time out in the Premier League despite a brave display after having Sofiane Feghouli incorrectly sent off early on.
The Algerian was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean for a tackle on Phil Jones which has since been rescinded – the fifth red card Slaven Bilic’s have had rescinded in the last season and a half from six dished out.
West Ham had started the game well and were on top before the sending off and then had to suffer Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring a killer second when clearly offside.
Referee Mike Dean gestures after sending off West Ham United’s Sofiane Feghouli
The fallout has seen Dean heavily criticised across the football world.
And now Premier League legend Alan Shearer has delivered his verdict on the situation in his column on Coral, slamming Red Devils defender Jones and saying that game should be a watershed moment for big changes.
“The standard of refereeing in this country is not at the level it should be,” Shearer told Coral.
“The standard of referring at the last Euros in France showed that this doesn’t have to be the case. Why can’t the same standard apply to the Premier League? Why can’t we get foreign referees in our country? The vast majority of good players in our league are foreign, the managers are foreign, so why not have the best referees, wherever they are from? The Premier League has plenty of money, so why not go and sign the best we can get.
Premier League legend Alan Shearer
“We should also incentivise ex-players to train as match officials for when their playing days are over and by that I mean former players who have played at Football League and Premier League level, players who may have finished in their early thirties who have had a good career but who are looking to stay in football. Many players are lost to the game and all they know is football, why lose that experience?
“Having said all of that, I do also understand that players are also responsible for making things more difficult for the officials, with over reactions, diving and the way they roll around and pretend to be in agony.
“Phil Jones the other night is a perfect example. Mike Dean made the wrong decision, there is no doubt about it, but Phil Jones feigned reaction didn’t help him.”
Even placid Bilic, known for being one of the more considered managers when it comes to airing opinions on officials, has spoken out this week about the fact he is not allowed to have his say on refereeing performances.
The Croatian has been keen to point out that his side have set a new record in having five of their last six red cards rescinded.
Indeed many supporters point to poor decisions against them costing them Champions League qualification last season as they finished just four points off the top four having drawn a joint highest 14 games – a number of which they were winning until poor decisions and red cards turned games on their head – notably against Crystal Palace and Chelsea to name but two.
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