FA investigate Nigel Pearson’s comments after Bristol City’s defeat to QPR

The FA are having to investigate Nigel Pearson’s comments on the referee after Bristol City’s Championship defeat to QPR on the 30th of December.

The Football Association are looking into what the Robins boss said during his post-match press conference on the 30th of December after his side lost 2-1 at home to QPR.

Pearson was heavily critical of referee Andy Davies and claimed Alex Scott was denied a clear first-half penalty which would have doubled his side’s lead.

He was fumed at further decisions including the awarding of a corner that led to QPR’s injury-time winner.

Pearson is rarely critical of match officials since arriving at Ashton Gate 11 months ago, however in all three post-game interviews with Sky Sports, BBC Radio Bristol and Bristol Live, he couldn’t help but slam the referee.

Nige was also seen intensely speaking into Davies’ ear whilst he was leaving the pitch come the end of the game.

“We came across a strong team and some dodgy refereeing. We should’ve had another penalty. The decisions were awful and I’ve told him that,” Pearson said. “I hope the next time we see him he’s on the park because that’s where he should be.

“How the assistant didn’t see it (the Scott penalty call). Look, we had it all on playing against 11 when we had 10 but the decisions just continued to be awful. It was a terrible performance by them (the officials).

“I’m not someone who moans a lot but let me tell you, that was awful today, and I told him as well.”

If the Football Association decides to charge Pearson under Rule E3, which surrounds comments that may be deemed “threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting”, he could face a fine.

Robins midfielder Andy King was red carded in the second half against Queens Park Rangers for two bookable offences, the first being a caution as a result of his complaints after Cam Pring brought down QPR midfielder Luke Amos for a penalty in first-half stoppage time.

In his apology to supporters, King was angerered over the decision-making in the game, whilst several Robins teammates showed their exasperation in-game.

https://youtu.be/VOuQI0H3lVM

The FA are also said to be looking into reports of two separate incidents of bottle throwing from supporters in the stands.

The first occurred on the 18th of December, during the 3-2 defeat to Huddersfield, when a supporter under the age of 16 was removed from the ground after throwing at least one plastic bottle onto the field in the direction of visiting forward Sorba Thomas.

City issued a statement soon after full-time condemning the incident, while the club reviewed internal CCTV to see if further action needs to be taken against any other fans involved.

During the QPR game, striker Charlie Austin’s celebration and goading of home fans in the corner of the ground also led to reports of projectiles thrown onto the field.

Twitter users reacted as the FA investigate Nigel Pearson’s comments after Bristol City’s defeat to QPR…

@TheRefereeForum: Its like he’s begging for a fine and ban… 🙄

@SmithyWFC85: Easier to blame the ref for errors than his own players as they have the power to get him sacked. Refs don’t.

@Cricket1406: Delightful chap Nigel. Imagine if the ref had made similar comments about ‘serial winner’ Nigel 🤡

@FryCiderArmy: The referee was absolutely abysmal. He gave QPR the game and deserved to be called out.

@craigbourton: ‘I’m not someone who moans a lot’ 😂 that’s All Pearson ever seems to do. Maybe if his team had kept it 11v11 they would of had a better chance of keeping in the match, but the sending off was probably the referees fault too I guess. 🤷🏻‍♂️

@Magyar_bmb: He’s a bore. Never stops whining, always blames the ref, never takes responsibility for his crap tactics or his players behaviour and mistakes. Can’t take anything he says seriously.

@themightyingers: Worth it. Worst referees performance I’ve ever seen at AG, and it’s a pretty low bar.

@CliftonReds: Why do officials get so much protection? Do your job properly and managers won’t be so critical…..

@citylad_09: So the referees get away with it again, Pearson had every right to say what he did because the ref cost us 3 points

@RReader168: Let’s hope any investigation considers the truth! There is TV evidence of the referee’s actions and decisions. So the investigators should use that and switch their attention to the referee should Pearson’s comments prove to be accurate.

@pure_robin719: Anyone else doing their job as badly as the officials at that match would be investigated and given warnings! But nobody’s allowed to say a word against them? It’s not even sour grapes at losing. They were absolutely atrocious

@danstockford: Should be investigating the officials

@Neilskuse: @NigelGPearson had every right to criticise that third rate referring absolutely shocking. The worst I can remember in 30 years watching @BristolCity