Blackburn boss Steve Kean refused to condemn referee Mark Clattenburg following Saturday's 3-2 Barclays Premier League defeat by Fulham.
A series of controversial decisions at Craven Cottage thrust Clattenburg back under the spotlight with his decision to award a match-winning penalty the most contentious. Bobby Zamora rifled home the 90th-minute spot-kick after Clattenburg decided Grant Hanley had held back Aaron Hughes at a corner.
Kean said: "I've asked Mark for his take on the penalty incident and he said that Grant Hanley had both hands around Aaron Hughes. He felt it was an aggressive bit of play and that's why he gave the penalty."
He added: "I've looked at the images myself again and think that technically he was right, there was a bit of contact, but I said to him that if you go on that you'd have to give 10 penalties every game.
"It's his interpretation of the initial incident and I have to respect that. We respect his decision. Referees have the hardest job in the world.
"Even if we'd finished with a point from this game we'd have been disappointed."
Kean would like to see referees publicly explain their decisions after a match.
He said: "It would be good for the game if referees could come in and answer questions.
"I can sit here and Mark Hughes can give his account, but probably referees need to open up.
"If everyone can understand the reason why they do give these things, grey areas can be cleared up."
Source: PA
