Chris Wilder is charged by the FA for his extraordinary rant accusing assistant referee of ‘a complete lack of respect’ for eating a SANDWICH in front of him after Sheffield United’s 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace last month
Chris Wilder has been charged by the FA after tearing into an official following Sheffield United’s 3-2 loss at Crystal Palace last month.
He branded referee Tony Harrington’s performance as ‘ridiculous’ and accused a linesman of a ‘complete lack of respect’ for eating a sandwich in a post-match meeting.
The Blades’ boss was irate that Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta went unpunished after a collision with new goalkeeper Ivo Grbic, who was withdrawn with a concussion, and had broader problems with the standard of officiating.
On Wednesday the FA announced that he has been charged for comments which allegedly brought the game into disrepute.
‘Chris Wilder has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 in relation to media comments that followed Sheffield United‘s Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Tuesday 30 January.’ The statement read.
Chris Wilder has been charged by the FA after ranting about the officials following Sheffield United’s 3-2 loss at Crystal Palace
Wilder went to visit referee Tony Harrington to complain but was offended by one of his assistant eating a sandwich during their meeting
‘It’s alleged that the manager’s comments constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias and/or attack the integrity of the referee, or referees generally, and/or bring the game into disrepute.
‘Chris Wilder has until Friday, 16 February, to provide hos response.’
The Blades boss had fumed in a post-match interview following the defeat to the Eagles last month.
‘It’s yet again another ridiculous performance from the referee,’ Wilder told BBC Sport.
‘I was told by a Premier League referee, who I’ve known for a long time and who’s as honest as the day is long, he said get ready because every tight decision will go against you.
‘He said every 50/50 decision will go against you. We had two bookings in the first half of the game but they weren’t bookings. They were just a coming together.
‘Their boy absolutely takes our goalkeeper out, we have to change goalkeepers and the boy doesn’t get booked. He says it was an accident, he clashed, it makes no odds if it’s an accident or it’s not an accident. It’s a yellow card.
‘We pick up four yellow cards, they pick up one at the death for time wasting. They’re taking an age. Their game management was good, but they’re taking an age.
‘We talked with Howard Webb about speeding the game up and making sure that referees have got a grip on that and he could hear the frustration for the supporters. He could see our frustration from our players.
He didn’t specify whether Dan Cook (left) or Mark Scholes (right) was the sandwich-eating linesman he took offence at
‘Every 50/50 or tight decision goes against us and if that’s what we’re going to have to deal with between now and the end of the season, we’re going to deal with it.
‘But I’m not just going to go under the radar and not say anything. I’ve been to see the referee and I’ve told him that.
‘One of his assistants was eating a sandwich at the time, which I thought was a complete lack of respect. Hopefully he enjoyed his sandwich while he was talking to a Premier League manager.’
It’s not clear whether Dan Cook or Mark Scholes was the hungry linesman in question.
Sheffield United’s crisis then deepened with a 5-0 defeat at home by Aston VIlla, leaving them 20th in the table and 10 points adrift of safety. However, they were able to breath new life into their survival bid with a 3-1 win over Luton in their last outing.
Asked if he would follow up his complaints with Webb, Wilder had said: ‘The same happened Saturday [against Brighton in the FA Cup].
‘Boys going down and conning the supporters, trying to con the referee. Every tight decision yet again. It’s happened too many times for me not to say anything. I’m not deflecting anything, I’ll say it as it is and that’s how I feel.
‘It wasn’t an aggressive match, it was a competitive match. Both teams have got respect for each other, I certainly have got a load of respect for Roy Hodgson and Ray Lewington and those guys here.
The Blades’ boss was fuming that Jean-Philippe Mateta was unpunished after a collision which left goalkeeper Ivo Grbic concussed
‘It was competitive, nobody went out to seriously injure anyone and we end up picking four bookings up. And like I said, every tight decision goes against us which, you know, for me is not acceptable.’
Wilder is not the first to land himself in potential hot water for ripping into referees.
Mikel Arteta was charged with misconduct but later absolved after claiming the decision to allow Newcastle’s winning goal against his club was ‘a disgrace’ and ‘embarrassing’ in November.
