Hodgson defends Premier League referees

11 April 2012 13:47

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson has defended the standard of refereeing in the Barclays Premier League and described the officials as 'probably the best in Europe'.

Several managers, including Fulham's Mark Hughes and Wigan's Roberto Martinez, have voiced criticism of the quality of refereeing.

But Hodgson said referees are not being helped by having every decision scrutinised "100 times" in what he described as "trial by television".

Hodgson said: "I think the referee standard is probably the best in Europe. We've got no complaints at all.

"Our games have been refereed very well. I never go into games worrying about the refereeing. I only concern myself with the team's performance.

"Of course, the ref will make a mistake now and again, especially when you judge the situation 100 times with slow-mo cameras.

"Once upon a time, the referee reffed the game and even in televised games, errors weren't magnified. What has changed is the trial by TV which refs have had to learn to live with.

"Once they had trial by fans, who would boo them off the field if they felt they didn't do a good job, and now they have trial by TV and every decision is analysed so much.

"Quite often, we only complain about a decision when we have watched the replay 15 times in slow motion. We don't complain at the time because we don't know if there was a mistake or not."

Hodgson added: "Football by its nature after every match will bring a complaint from one manager or another, that his team has been robbed, and that's been going on since I can remember. But I would be the last one to suggest it's due to incompetence. Refs do make mistakes but you see players making them as well."

Source: PA