Manchester United captain Gary Neville's elite referee claims rubbished by Jeff Winter

17 November 2009 14:05
Winter has insisted that Neville's appeal for only the most experienced and accomplished referees to officiate at top matches in England would be given short shrift across the game. [LNB]"It is a bit like (United manager) Sir Alex Ferguson saying we are not going to play a youngster in our first team because our experienced players are far better than them," Teesside-based Winter said. [LNB] Related ArticlesNani wanted by FiorentinaBen Foster weighs up loan moveSpurs prepare £6m bid for FosterBen Foster's World Cup hopes 'alive'Berbatov wants Bulgaria recordNeville: best referees must get big games"You have to be given a chance to get that experience and then a few years later these guys are the seasoned internationals. [LNB]"From the fan's, player's and manager's point of view there is so much at stake that when a decision goes against you, you are not happy and it wouldn't matter who the referee was wither it was a first-season novice or if we brought (Pierluigi) Collina out of retirement." [LNB]Winter believes Neville's stance was motivated by his club's 2-0 defeat by arch-rivals Liverpool last month. [LNB]"What he is getting at is probably the appointment of Andre Mariner recently for the Liverpool-Manchester United game," Winter added. [LNB]"But he is a guy who has come up into the Premiership and as a referee when you get into the Premiership it is exactly the same as a team coming up. [LNB]"Andre Mariner had a bit of a rough start like we all did when we got up into the Premier League. He mastered that and is getting the big games on merit. [LNB]"The gulf between the Championship and Premiership is vast. It is everything about it - the quality of play, the media involvement, everything. [LNB]"But when you first come into the Premier League with the greatest of respect to some sides you are going to get Burnley v Hull or Wigan against Fulham . [LNB]"Then eventually you are proving that you are doing the job you may get Manchester United, Liverpool Chelsea and Arsenal away from home against one of the lesser sides. [LNB]"Then you go up another rung to Old Trafford or the Emirates against one of the lesser sides. When you proved you are capable of going that you will eventually be given the bigger games." [LNB]Despite Neville's claims, Winter said the biggest games were generally awarded to the best officials. [LNB]"When you think in recent weeks, Alan Wiley Manchester United against Sunderland, Martin Atkinson Chelsea against Manchester United two of the country's most experienced elite referees and I seem to remember Sir Alex Ferguson was not too happy with their performances," Winter told TalkSport. [LNB]"You have the select group of referees that referees the Premier League matches but within that group you have the international list, the most experienced guys and then you have the younger referees that come into it. The only way in life you are going to get experienced is when you are given a chance. [LNB]"Really the comments of Gary Neville I think most people in the game will have just dismissed them because the best referees are getting the best games. I suppose the argument then goes on to are the bets referees good enough and that is different argument for a different day." [LNB]

Source: Telegraph