Neil Warnock has made his feelings perfectly clear towards referees and VAR following Liverpool’s victory against Crystal Palace.
‘The Reds’ were 2-1 up with just one minute left in the game. However, Palace hadn’t given up trying to find an equaliser, but their efforts were in vain following a controversial penalty decision.
After a tame challenge by goalkeeper Vicente Guaita on Diego Jota, referee Kevin Friend elected not to point to the penalty spot. However, VAR, which was being led by Craig Pawson, recommended that he go over to the pitchside monitor to review his decision. Friend then awarded Liverpool a penalty.
Fabinho smashed his spot-kick home, securing the three points for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
It was undoubtedly a controversial moment that overshadowed the game. One man who, typically, hasn’t been afraid to voice an opinion is Neil Warnock.
Neil Warnock kicks off
The 73-year-old has a track record of slating anyone and everything from officials to VAR and even his own players.
Warnock has provided fans with many memorable lines over the years. One that stands out was when he slated referee David Elleray following Sheffield United’s defeat against Southampton in 2001.
He said: “David Elleray was that far away he would have needed binoculars. I really think it’s about time we use the means to sort these things out rather than relying on some bald-headed bloke standing 50 yards away.”
But his expletive Kevin Muscat rant is perhaps his most notorious of all.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that he’s left no stone unturned in dissecting the refereeing performance that cost his former club Crystal Palace any chance of taking a point away from the game against Liverpool.
Neil Warnock gives his unfiltered opinion on referees
He claimed: “They get away with murder, the top clubs. On Sunday, I thought it was a great opportunity for a referee to actually do the good thing. But with Kevin Friend, I turned to my son and said, ‘Well, that’s a penalty then if he is doing it’. He said, ‘It can’t be, dad’, and I said, ‘Just you wait’.
“They looked at it 40 times and then called Kevin Friend over. As he was going, I’m saying to William that he’s got to show what’s between his legs now. He’s got to go over and say, ‘I think my decision is right’.
“If he had have done that, the credibility referees would have got – instead, they are doing that. He goes over and changes his mind to the worst decision … On situations like this, I think it’s got to have someone who has played the game in there with VAR as they don’t understand.”
He then went on to add: “They know the rules inside out but have no idea about the actual game and how it evolves. It’s supposed to be a clear and obvious error.”
He might not be to everyone’s taste. But if referees make questionable decisions, then Neil Warnock isn’t afraid to call them out.
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