Football: Liverpool-Chelsea referee gets red card
Posted: 20 August 2007 2244 hrs

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LONDON : Rob Styles will not referee a match next weekend following his performance in the game between Liverpool and Chelsea, referees' chief Keith Hackett said on Monday.

Styles awarded Chelsea a dubious penalty, scored by midfielder Frank Lampard, allowing the visitors to claim a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

He also caused confusion by appearing to issue a second yellow card to the Blues' Michael Essien.

The official insisted he had instead booked Chelsea captain John Terry - to whom he had already raised the yellow card in the incident.

Hackett, the general manager of Professional Game Match Officials Limited, told Sky Sports News television: "Accountability exists and we, the PGMOL, do expect referees to get big decisions correct.

"On this occasion it was wrong and therefore Rob will not be officiating next weekend."

Hackett also revealed assistant referee Ian Gosling will be given next weekend off, after he denied Fulham a late equaliser at home to Middlesbrough when striker David Healy clearly forced the ball over the line.

The Cottagers lost 2-1 to Boro at Craven Cottage.

The referees' supremo has even apologised to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez.

On Styles, Hackett added: "I spoke to Rob this morning and obviously he is extremely disappointed with the decision and admitted he got it wrong. I have left a message with Rafael Benitez to apologise.

"Having looked at a video and seen a better angle and a better view, clearly he (Styles) now recognises that he got it wrong and he's deeply apologetic for that. I think, in fact, he too will be making contact with Liverpool in order to offer his apologies."

Asked about the confusion when Essien appeared to have been booked for a second time but not subsequently dismissed, Hackett said: "I'm informed by both the fourth official and Rob he retained the card shown to John Terry then held the card to indicate a direct free-kick, and failed to put the card away.

"So it was a basic, if you like, admin error as against an error in application of law.

"We'll look at the video to ensure we don't get a repeat of that."

Hackett also confirmed Gosling, who wrongly ruled Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer prevented Healy's effort from crossing the line, will also be without a game this weekend.

"Clearly the assistant referee has made an error, so he won't be operating next week for us either."

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard criticised Styles' performance, saying he "cracked" under pressure on the penalty decision.

"I don't want to say too much because I will get into trouble, but the referee didn't play well," the England midfielder said.

"Whether it was because the Chelsea players were talking I don't know, but in the end he's cracked and made a bad decision. It wasn't a penalty and I hope he comes out and says sorry now.

"We have to apologise as players if we make mistakes so I hope he does the same."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho revealed Essien feared he had been sent off.

The Ghana midfielder, who played at right-back due to Chelsea's injury crisis, found himself booked after just 12 minutes for a foul on Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa.

But in a match that produced nine yellow cards from Styles, Essien thought he had received a second caution as Styles waved a yellow card over his head.

"Michael was honestly very frightened, he thought he had been booked again," Mourinho said.

"The referee then explained that he had only booked one player, John Terry, but Essien stood there for a long time and he said afterwards that he believed he had been cautioned again." - AFP/de