Saturday 5 November 2016 09:20, UK
Robert Huth thinks referees are getting penalty decisions wrong "a lot of the time" this season and feels he is being judged on "reputation".
The Leicester defender gave away a spot-kick last weekend after tussling with Tottenham's Vincent Janssen in the box.
Referees have been directed to clamp down on pushing and holding in the penalty area this season.
But Huth told Sky Sports: "The first three or four weeks of the season were ridiculous, penalties were given just for making contact with someone.
"If it's a long goal-kick you wrestle for the ball or position…For some reason when it's a set piece it's a different rule and, in my opinion, the referees get it wrong a lot of the time."
Asked whether he felt hard done by with some of the decisions that have gone against him this season, Huth said: "I do and I don't. Certain games, either defending or attacking, the ball has gone out for a corner and the referee is already looking at me saying 'Rob, I am watching you'. It almost feels like reputation before actual action.
"Against Spurs I felt very hard done by. It seems we are trying to get toughness out of the game but nothing gets done about the softness, in my eyes it was a dive any day of the week, but the referee gave the penalty and that's it really, you have to deal with the disappointment.
"It's something as a profession we should look at. I have been guilty, and I will be guilty in the future, of holding and pulling, but there needs to be a bit of margin for both ways."
Despite conceding a penalty against Spurs, the Foxes did recover to draw 1-1 and pick up their first away point of the season in the Premier League.
They followed that up with a goalless draw against Copenhagen in the Champions League in midweek, after which they were hit with the news that goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has broken his hand and faces around a month out.
"It's a big blow, he has been arguably our best player this season," said Huth. "You saw last night [against Copenhagen], he made a big save to keep us in the game.
"It was surprising really, we came in this morning and he had a cast on his hand. It's a big disappointment but hopefully we will get him back soon."
Ron-Robert Zieler is expected to deputise for Schmiechel, starting in the home match against West Brom on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
The fixture sees Huth come up against his old Stoke manager, Tony Pulis.
"I loved my time with Tony, he is a great manager," said Huth. "From a defender's point of view I love the guy, he really helped me out with my game.
"I can sometimes see strikers getting frustrated because he loves the defensive side, but his record speaks for itself."
Watch Leicester v West Brom live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 4.15pm on Sunday.
