It’s not fair that referees face psychological warfare

Tony Pulis is the outspoken, straight-talking manager of Stoke City in the Premier League and recently he has had plenty to say about referees.

Stoke’s players have picked up more cautions than any other team in the league so far this season and, of course, he puts the blame firmly on the referees.

He has taken his complaints to Mike Riley, who is now head of the Premier League referees.

“‘I have given him a piece of my mind,” Pulis is reported to have said.

“I find the whole situation very disappointing, week after week.”

My own experience of Stoke this season is purely from the television but I am not surprised at the large level of yellow cards.

I’m sure that even Pulis would admit that he employs some tough tacklers.

At a relatively small club with limited resources, he may argue that this how he has managed to keep Stoke in the highly competitive Premier League for the last six years.

I’ve heard on our local radio recently, from supporters and even commentators, that they would like to see more fouls from Reading.

I suppose it is thought that it shows more commitment, more fighting spirit. If you don’t have the talent to match your more illustrious opponents then rough them up a little.

What we have to realise, of course, is that Tony Pulis is trying a little of the psychology that Sir Alex Ferguson is so adept at.

Prior to the United-City derby recently, Sir Alex claimed that referees awarded more penalties to City than they did to United.

As it was there was only one penalty difference between the two teams this season.

What they are trying to do by their claims that their teams are being treated unfairly, is to put pressure on future referees to influence their decision.

Pulis may have had a case with the dismissal of Ryan Shotton, when although he brought down Fabien Delph against Aston Villa he appeared to be trying to avoid him.

This highlights a situation that I get asked about. Players are often cautioned for what appears to be an innocuous foul and if they have already been cautioned it means they are sent off.

It is not a reckless tackle and at most times it would only result in the referee awarding a free kick and nothing more. So what turns it into a yellow card? This happens when the referee considers it to be what’s known as a tactical foul.

When referees are faced with a decision, they have enough to think about without pressure from managers playing psychological games.

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