Martinez blasts refereeing standards

Posted Thursday, February 25, 2010 by PA

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez claims the Barclays Premier League is being made to look a laughing stock by poor refereeing decisions.

Martinez is still annoyed that Tottenham's opening goal in their 3-0 win at the DW Stadium last weekend was allowed to stand. Goalscorer Jermain Defoe was in a clear offside position when he received the ball and Martinez felt his strike changed the game.

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."

He continued: "I think it was a big call. Until then it was nothing of a game, nobody had any real chances.

"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."