Sheffield United Manager Fined by FA for Referee Comments
Sheffield United’s manager, Chris Wilder, found himself in hot water as he was fined £11,500 by the Football Association due to his remarks about referee Tony Harrington following their defeat against Crystal Palace in January.
Wilder’s criticism of Harrington’s performance was deemed “ridiculous” by the FA and resulted in a charge of improper conduct. The Sheffield United boss even mentioned being forewarned by a Premier League referee that all tight decisions would go against his team.
In addition to his comments on Harrington, Wilder also took issue with one of the assistant referees for allegedly showing disrespect by eating a sandwich during their post-match discussion. These actions led to further scrutiny from the FA.
The football governing body stated that Wilder’s remarks implied bias towards officials and brought the game into disrepute. Accepting the charge later on, Wilder reiterated his dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions made during the match at Selhurst Park where Sheffield United suffered a 3-2 loss despite holding leads.
A Controversial Post-Match Interview
“It’s yet again another ridiculous performance from the referee,” said Wilder after voicing his concerns regarding bookings given to his players. He expressed disappointment over what he perceived as unfair officiating and confronted Harrington directly about it.
Frustrated with events on and off-field, Wilder didn’t hold back: “Hopefully he enjoyed his sandwich while he was talking to a Premier League manager.” His strong words reflect both frustration and defiance amidst contentious calls during crucial moments of play.