Source: Daily_Mail
Rookie ref Attwell to be stood down (again) after night of madness at JJB
Controversial referee Stuart Attwell will not be in charge of another Premier League game for the foreseeable future and could even have officiated in the top flight for the last time this season.
Attwell's decision to show West Ham striker Carlton Cole a second yellow card eight minutes before the break in West Ham's 1-0 victory at Wigan on Wednesday has been viewed by many as the reason the game descended into a bad tempered affair.
Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole, earlier the victim of a studs-up lunge by West Ham captain Lucas Neill which appeared worthy of a red card and not just a booking, was subsequently sent off for an ugly challenge from behind on Scott Parker.
Attwell will this weekend be fourth official when Bury entertain Rochdale. And although the 26-year-old is regarded as having the potential to become a top official, referees' chief Keith Hackett is understood to feel he needs more time to hone his skills.
Hackett is believed to have come under pressure from David Elleray, vice chairmanof the Football Association referees' committee, to hand Attwell top-flight games despite his relative inexperience.
But after another indifferent display by the young official, Hackett has seemingly arrived at the conclusion that Attwell would benefit from a period out of the spotlight beforereturning to the Premier League.
Cole, who will be suspended for two games as he had already been sent off earlier in the season, certainly feels Attwell blundered by choosing to dismiss him for two innocuous-looking fouls.
The West Ham striker said: 'I thought the referee got this one wrong. I was annoyed I was sent off early, I've not done anything malicious. I don't know what the referee saw, but he made the decision and he stood by it.'
Cole's declaration of innocence was backed up by team-mate Matthew Upson, who said: 'I thought it was quite harsh on Carlton as they were two innocuous incidents.
'I had a good view of the sending-off and the thing you have to say about it is that Carlton has not taken his eye off the ball the whole time. If the defender ducks down and chooses to head it, Carlton then can't help his foot being high.
'You also have to look at the first booking when the referee pulled the play all the way back to give him a yellow card. OK, it was a foul, but it made it difficult then not to send him off.'
Wigan boss Steve Bruce said: 'We lost the game and deserved to lose the game. I've no complaints about that, but when I keep seeing these decisions I think Mr Attwell, unfortunately, is not quite ready yet. And, for me, the fourth official (Andre Marriner) is coaching him towards the end - which we've got to stop as well.'
Wednesday's battle at the JJB Stadium is not the first time Attwell has courted controversy.
He was referee at the centre of the 'ghost goal' farce last September when, on the advice of his assistant Nigel Bannister, he ruled that Watford's John Eustace had scored an own goal in the 2-2 draw with Reading when a corner had actually been turned around the post.
He hit the headlines once more last November for his performance in Nottingham Forest's 1-1 Championship draw at local rivals Derby.
The home side's Miles Addison had two injury time headers ruled out by Attwell, thefirst to award Paul Jewell's team a penalty and the second for a non-existent push.
Attwell even drew criticism as recently as last Saturday when his display in Exeter's 2-0 victory over Darlington was described by onlookers as 'poor'.
