Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has criticized the decision to remove referee Kevin Friend for Tottenham’s big match at Stoke on Monday night as the official was deemed to be a Leicester fan.
Wenger is a strong advocate for helping referees, whatever he thinks about their decisions against his club, and believes the move questions the integrity of officials and claims it sets a dangerous precedent.
He fears a social media campaign has swayed the decision, and said: “I’m completely against that. The referees are professional people. You’re supposed to be impartial whatever happens. I was always against this rule. I believe that, on some level, someone doesn’t believe completely that the referee is not impartial. It surprises me that that happens.
“Social media shouldn’t dictate the rules or what happens to a referee. People at the top level have the responsibility to make these decisions. I’m surprised and disappointed by that decision.”
Wenger did reveal he had held talks with PGMOL head Mike Riley on how best to select Referees for a match.
He added: “You cannot consider referees having to declare who they support and then not refereeing that team. If they referee a team who is fighting with the team they support, they can’t even referee that match.
“If you go down that route, you’re thinking the referees are not professional. To be professional is to do what the rules demand. If they can’t be impartial because they have an emotional link with the club, that’s not about being professional.
Wenger Slams Decision For The Removal of Friend from Totteham Clash
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