Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Angry Kinnear slams referee

10 Nov 2008 - 07:30:34

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Angry Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear could be in trouble with the Football Association after calling official Martin Atkinson a 'Mickey Mouse referee' following his side's 2-1 defeat at Fulham.

Kinnear was furious that Atkinson awarded the home side a 65th minute penalty after Andy Johnson was felled in the area by Fabricio Coloccini.

The Magpies chief felt his side should have been awarded a free-kick in the build-up for a push by Johnson on defender Claudio Cacapa.

Newcastle's had just equalised Johnson's first-half opener through Shola Ameobi when the spot-kick was awarded.

"There was a blatant foul prior to the penalty, which the referee ignored," fumed Kinnear.

"We were camped in their half. Cacapa was on the ball and Johnson completely pushes him out the way, nicks the ball and gets the penalty.

"We've got the Mickey Mouse referee doing nothing. He's made an error that cost us.

"The same thing happened last week with a penalty against Man City. Later on it was proved it wasn't a penalty and we had a player sent off which cost us points.

"It just doesn't stop but that's the standard of refereeing in this country.

"It happens week in, week out. There's always a smart answer like 'someone was obstructing my view'.

"You used to be able to have a bit of banter with referees and they'd put their hands up if they make mistakes but now they hide."