Today’s ref is Tony Harrington from Hartlepool, which is only 8 miles from Middlesborough as the crow flies, so he wont have far to travel to referee the Boro v Swans match this lunchtime.
He has form against us. For example he was the referee who sent Bidwell off at Bristol City last season. Cooper: It's a poor decision isn't it. We don't agree with it. We've looked at it already on the broadcast visuals and on the wide angles. Looking at the position of it and how far out it is from goal and the actual tackle, don't get me wrong, it's a foul, it's as yellow as they come, but to send him off is a bit of a weak decision, a weak mentality," he added.
Also last season, Rotherham 2 - Swansea 1. The Millers had gone 8 games without a win, but were awarded two controversial penalties by Harrington in the last 10 mins, he also showed us four yellow cards.
Potter: “The penalties, I haven't seen them back, but the first one, their boy is offside to start with and then I wasn't so sure, there didn't seem too much in it (Nordfelt allegedly brought down Proctor). The second one, I see why he's given it, but the ball is hit so hard (point blank almost) at Leroy, but that can happen.”
Former PL referee Jeff Winter: “I’m amazed referees are still being asked to officiate matches close to where they are born.
The Football League leave themselves open to criticism in this way.
It’s not that I doubt the integrity of the match officials, it’s just creating a potential problem that is unnecessary.
It’s leaving the match officials open to criticism, over and above what comes their way through the usual demands of the job.”