Roberto Martinez believes Cesc Fabregas' guile won Arsenal a penalty and saw Gary Caldwell sent off.
Latics boss unhappy with Caldwell dismissal
Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez believes Cesc Fabregas' guile won Arsenal a penalty and saw Gary Caldwell sent off on Saturday.
The Latics played the remainder of their 3-0 defeat to The Gunners at Emirates Stadium a man light after Caldwell was dismissed for clashing with Fabregas in the penalty area.
The contact between the two seemed minimal and Martinez credits the Spanish playmakers' ability to 'buy decisions' from referees as the reason why referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot and issued a red card.
Martinez thinks that Fabregas' ability to influence decisions is a form of cheating, although he accepts that in other nations that style of play is accepted.
Buy decisions
"I know Cesc very well. He is a wonderful player and very clever, and he knows how to buy decisions off referees," Martinez said.
"There is contact, but you do not know how much of that comes from Cesc looking for it, or from Gary's leg. I don't think that contact is intentional to bring Cesc down.
"Cesc comes from different culture - you do not cheat, if you take a decision from the referee it is because you are clever and you are getting something for your team.
"In England, to do that is cheating, but in South America, Spain, even Italy, to try to get a decision from the referee is just being clever and getting that advantage. Everyone is allowed to do it.
"That action in Spain gets a 'well done' from everyone. In England, they won't be too happy with because it is a completely different approach to the game."
