Styles dropped after mistake
20 Aug 2007 - 12:29:56
Rob Styles will not take charge of a match next weekend after referees' chief Keith Hackett revealed the Hampshire official has been dropped following his controversial performance in the game between Liverpool and Chelsea.
Styles has been widely criticised for awarding Chelsea a second-half penalty in Sunday's clash at Anfield after penalising Steve Finnan for a foul on Florent Malouda.
The 2005 FA Cup final referee also came under fire after appearing to show Chelsea's Michael Essien three yellow cards during the match, although he later claimed the last caution was for team-mate John Terry.
But Hackett, the head of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), has revealed he has taken Styles out of the firing line for the short-term and attempted to contact Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez to apologise for an incorrect decision.
"Accountability exists and we here at the PGMOL expect referees to get the big decisions correct," he told Sky Sports News.
"On this occasion it was wrong and, therefore, Rob will not be officiating at the weekend."
After the match, Benitez called the decision to award the penalty 'unbelievable'.
"I want to have a lot of respect for referees, but sometimes I cannot understand why they give some decisions," he said.
"I think he will watch the video of the match and admit that his penalty decision was a mistake."