Reading Football Club News

• Nickname:Royals
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Coppell blast for referee

29 Aug 2007 - 10:19:31

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Reading boss Steve Coppell revealed his frustration at referee Kevin Friend after seeing Sam Sodje sent-off during their 1-0 Carling Cup victory over Swansea.

England Under-21 striker Leroy Lita scored the only goal of the game on his first start of the season, but Coppell accused the match official of bowing to crowd pressure after showing Sodje a second yellow card in the 58th minute.

"I try to bite my tongue sometimes because I don't like complaining about referees, but I did feel there was an element of unfairness in some of the decisions," he said.

"I didn't feel the consistency for both sides was right. The referee reacted to the crowd's reaction for the second tackle.

"It is a hostile atmosphere here and you need your officials to be strong. I just felt we were on the wrong end of quite a few decisions.

"Sodje's hardly made a tackle, and then as a centre-half, he is strong and wins the ball.

"To be punished with the foul and then to be given a second yellow card - I thought it was outrageous."