Martinez blasts ref blunders

Latics boss struggling to understand incorrect decisions

Last updated: 25th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes the Premier League is being devalued by 'laughable' refereeing blunders.

The Latics have been drawn into a relegation battle and a latest defeat to Tottenham incensed their under-pressure manager after Spurs' opening goal was allowed to stand at the DW Stadium.

Jermain Defoe set Harry Redknapp's team on their way to victory on Sunday, but the England striker was clearly offside when he opened the scoring in the 3-0 win.

Martinez remains far from impressed that referee Alan Wiley, who played an excellent advantage during the build-up following a foul on David Bentley, and his assistants failed to spot Defoe's infringement.

The Spaniard said: "We all know how difficult it is to be a referee and to get the decisions right. When you get a close call I am the first one to understand that.

"But for me it is hard to explain how you can get that decision wrong. I think it was a big call. Until then it was nothing of a game, nobody had any real chances.

Bad decisions

"I think it devalues the Premier League when you get actions like that. It is not even a close call and it makes you wonder. You have got a player that is two yards offside.

"I cannot explain how the best league in the world has got people that can get those decisions wrong.

"When you are looking at it from abroad, I think it is laughable stock. It is the best league in the world, you cannot get decisions like that wrong."

With Wigan just two points above the relegation zone ahead of this weekend's trip to Birmingham, Martinez feels his side are overdue a slice of luck.

The former Swansea boss added: "There is nothing we can do, we just hope we can change and have a little more luck.

"You hope you are going to get these sort of bad decisions going your way throughout the campaign, but at the moment I can't remember having these sort of decisions."

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