Tweet
Roberto Martinez charged for referee comments after Wigan's 4-0 defeat by Manchester United
Roberto Martinez is consulting senior figures at Wigan Athletic after being charged by the Football Association for critical comments about referee Michael Oliver following the Premier League defeat at Manchester United on September 15.
Unhappy: Roberto Martinez challenged a number of decisions made during the game Photo: By Mark Ogden 11:58AM BST 26 Sep 2012
Martinez has until 4pm on Thursday to respond to the charge, which is likely to lead to a fine if upheld by the FA’s disciplinary, but the Spaniard spent Wednesday night considering his response following discussions with the Wigan hierarchy. The charge follows Martinez’s complaints about decisions going against his team during the 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford — a penalty being awarded to the home side prior to United forward Danny Welbeck avoiding a red card following a late challenge on Wigan forward Franco di Santo. Martinez said at the time: “I have come to United three times before today and for whatever reason we don’t seem to be measured in the same manner as the team at home.
“Today the penalty is as bad a decision as you are going to see in the Premier League. In many ways, you feel as though you are fighting against a mountain. “There were tackles flying around that if they had been the other way round there would have been a couple of red cards.”
Martinez then described Welbeck’s challenge as “completely reckless”, adding: “It is a red card, for a Wigan player, Manchester United, everyone.”
As a result of Martinez’s comments, the FA issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that the former Swansea manager had been charged. The FA said: “The charge is in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 concerning media comments which implied that the match referee and/or match officials in general are motivated by bias and/or brought the game into disrepute.”
Roberto Martinez is consulting senior figures at Wigan Athletic after being charged by the Football Association for critical comments about referee Michael Oliver following the Premier League defeat at Manchester United on September 15.
Unhappy: Roberto Martinez challenged a number of decisions made during the game Photo: By Mark Ogden 11:58AM BST 26 Sep 2012
Martinez has until 4pm on Thursday to respond to the charge, which is likely to lead to a fine if upheld by the FA’s disciplinary, but the Spaniard spent Wednesday night considering his response following discussions with the Wigan hierarchy. The charge follows Martinez’s complaints about decisions going against his team during the 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford — a penalty being awarded to the home side prior to United forward Danny Welbeck avoiding a red card following a late challenge on Wigan forward Franco di Santo. Martinez said at the time: “I have come to United three times before today and for whatever reason we don’t seem to be measured in the same manner as the team at home.
“Today the penalty is as bad a decision as you are going to see in the Premier League. In many ways, you feel as though you are fighting against a mountain. “There were tackles flying around that if they had been the other way round there would have been a couple of red cards.”
Martinez then described Welbeck’s challenge as “completely reckless”, adding: “It is a red card, for a Wigan player, Manchester United, everyone.”
As a result of Martinez’s comments, the FA issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that the former Swansea manager had been charged. The FA said: “The charge is in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 concerning media comments which implied that the match referee and/or match officials in general are motivated by bias and/or brought the game into disrepute.”
Comment