Home England FA Cup “I was being honest”

“I was being honest”

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Brendan Rodgers will stress he was speaking ‘openly and honestly’ after the FA asked Liverpool’s manager to explain his comments about referee Lee Mason.

The Football Association launched an investigation yesterday after Rodgers made a stinging attack on Mason following Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Boxing Day, during which he questioned the wisdom of giving a referee from Bolton a game at the Etihad Stadium.

Rodgers described the performance of the match officials as ‘horrendous’ and the FA must now decide whether he is in breach of rule E3 (1), which deals with comments made about a match official that imply bias, attack the officials’ integrity or are ‘personally offensive in nature’.

But back at Liverpool’s Melwood training base yesterday, Rodgers was not apologetic for the tone he took and insisted he did not speak with malice, pointing to the fact he has never had any disciplinary action taken against him during his managerial career.

‘I think it (the FA’s decision) is something that naturally happens,’ said Rodgers.

‘I was speaking openly and honestly after the game. I think the FA and the Referees’ Association know that I’m someone who engages in supporting referees.

‘I’m not one who berates referees after games. I am always respectful and I ask my staff to be respectful on the pitch. We never chase fourth officials down the line on a match day. I’ve had a number of them in here (at Melwood) so I help and support what they do.

‘In terms of geography, I certainly wasn’t questioning (his) integrity.

‘I fully understand the job. It was more the logic of having a referee from that part of the world refereeing a game in Manchester. I wouldn’t suspect Mike Dean from the Wirral has refereed many games for Liverpool over the years.’

Dean has only taken charge of Liverpool once — a League Cup tie against Sheffield United in January 2003 — since he began refereeing the Barclays Premier League in 2000. He was supposed to take charge of the 2006 FA Cup final but was replaced by the FA when Liverpool got through.

Rodgers added: ‘It was just something I felt after the game because games are decided on fine details. If you look at my record since I’ve been a manager, I’ve never had any indiscretions. I will always respect the authorities. I don’t play mind games.’

Written by Steve Milne – Have your say below 🙂

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