Chelsea
manager Roberto Di Matteo says the officials “ruined” the game as the Blues
slumped to their first Premier League defeat of the season against Manchester
United at Stamford Bridge. Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres
were both given red cards in the space of five minutes just after the hour in
United’s 3-2 win – with the Spaniard’s dismissal for diving disputed by
Chelsea.
Chelsea also lodged a complaint to the
Premier League match delegate over the alleged use of “inappropriate language”
by referee Mark Clattenburg towards two of their players
A club spokesman said, “The match
delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association.”
delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association.”
Referees’ organisation Professional
Game Match Officials later issued a statement which said, “PGMO is aware of the
allegations and they are being treated with the utmost seriousness.
Game Match Officials later issued a statement which said, “PGMO is aware of the
allegations and they are being treated with the utmost seriousness.
“Mark will co-operate fully and
welcomes the opportunity for the facts to be established.”
welcomes the opportunity for the facts to be established.”
United took advantage of Chelsea being
reduced to nine men as Javier Hernandez scored a late winner from an offside
position to leave Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a point behind the league leaders.
reduced to nine men as Javier Hernandez scored a late winner from an offside
position to leave Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a point behind the league leaders.
“The second yellow card [shown to
Torres] wasn’t one and the decisive goal was offside,” said Di Matteo.
Torres] wasn’t one and the decisive goal was offside,” said Di Matteo.
“It is a shame a game like this had to
be decided in that manner by officials. Surely when the referee watches it he
will realise he has made big mistakes.
be decided in that manner by officials. Surely when the referee watches it he
will realise he has made big mistakes.
“Fernando put the ball between Jonny
Evans’s legs and he was kicked on the shin and went down. Whatever way you want
to see it that is our foul and a yellow card for their player, not ours.”
Evans’s legs and he was kicked on the shin and went down. Whatever way you want
to see it that is our foul and a yellow card for their player, not ours.”
“It is a shame because it was a good
game of football with two good teams and the officials ruined it.”
game of football with two good teams and the officials ruined it.”
Manchester United manager Ferguson
admitted his side rode their luck with Hernandez’s winner, but believes Torres
must shoulder the blame for his red card.
admitted his side rode their luck with Hernandez’s winner, but believes Torres
must shoulder the blame for his red card.
“We’ve never got breaks down here and
had some terrible decisions against us in the last few years,” he said.
had some terrible decisions against us in the last few years,” he said.
Culled from BBC
