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‘Furious’ Kevin Nolan to speak to ‘higher authorities’ about ‘worrying’ refereeing standards

‘Furious’ Northampton boss Kevin Nolan is to speak to ‘higher authorities’ about ‘worrying’ refereeing standards in League One.

Following a 1-1 draw against Cambridge United Saturday, Nolan highlighted two specific incidents that he believes were mishandled by the officials.

The first saw Ryan Loft elbow Mitch Pinnock to the ground, which had gone unpunished despite occurring off the ball at the start of the second half.

The second was a missed foul on goalkeeper Lee Burge, which allowed James Brophy to score directly from a corner, canceling out Northampton’s earlier lead.

Nolan described these oversights as “worrying” and costing his team two points, emphasising that “something needs to be done.”

He said to he is planning to put his concerns with the “higher authorities” this week to push for improvements in officiating standards.

On his anger at officials missing a ‘disgraceful’ elbow from Ryan Loft on Mitch Pinnock, he said, per Northampton Chronicle: “I’m disappointed with the officials. In the first minute of the second half Ryan Loft has just elbowed Mitch Pinnock. It’s a disgrace. I’m fed up and I’m really angry because the officials have the authority to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“It happened with Aaron Pierre on Jack Baldwin at Shrewsbury earlier in the season and Jack was out for a long time and it’s happened again in the first minute of the second half today. It’s lucky that Mitch has turned his head because it could have been worse but it’s still a red card. The referee misses it, the fourth official misses it and the lino misses it.

“I don’t normally talk about referees but then, to make matters worse, there’s two of their lads on our goalkeeper and they’re pulling him with their hands and the ball goes in the goal. If I did that session in training and a lad scored from a corner, you’ve got to know something has gone wrong as a referee. I knew right away that something wasn’t right.

“We leave Burgey alone at corners so he can handle one on one and we don’t have a scrap but he’s actually got hold of his hand and Burgey’s trying to get away from him and he’s pulling his shirt and he actually trips him up.

“He’s missed two massive incidents and it’s cost us two points.”

Nolan is to speak to ‘higher authorities’ about ‘worrying’ refereeing standards in League One, saying per Northampton Chronicle: “It’s quite worrying and it’s cost me two points because the referee has missed two massive incidents.

“I’ve said that I don’t want to speak about referees but I will definitely be speaking to the higher authorities this week because something needs to be done. That’s two massive points we’ve lost because of poor refereeing decisions.

“If you’ve got a goalkeeper in the goal and you put the ball into that area from a corner, it shouldn’t go in. It wouldn’t go in if it was in my son’s game at U15s level. It would never happen. If it floats over the goalkeeper and goes in at the back post, that’s just one of those and you can understand it a bit more because that does happen, but not where it went in today. I’m disappointed.”

Questioned if he spoke to the referee after full-time: “I’ve not had chance yet. I have to do media so I’ve sent Colin (Calderwood) to speak to them but to say I’m disappointed would be an understatement today. Having seen it back again on the video, you know when something has happened and they can’t afford to miss things like that.

“If he (Loft) catches Mitch, Mitch is in trouble. We’ve had it before with Jack Baldwin at Shrewsbury and that’s why it’s doubly upsetting for me. He should be sent off because it’s really bad from him and he shouldn’t be doing that. When you actually see it back, it’s not nice at all and that’s what I’m really upset about.”

Fans reacted as a ‘furious’ Kevin Nolan says he is to speak to ‘higher authorities’ about ‘worrying’ refereeing standards…

@RMcCarthy98: The worse game of football I’ve ever watched and the worst refereeing performance to go with it

@GenerallyJackYT: Lino right next to it let’s it go, forth official has a clear line of sight, let’s it go. When are these officials gonna be fit for the job #ntfc

@JoshGenera47756: Isn’t that just assault? 😂🤦‍♂️

@CobblersToMe: He sounded pretty angry!

@TeynHub: Red card here. Foul on burge for the goal. McGowans handball ignored. 3 incidents that show officiating isn’t up to the correct standard… when is something going to be done???? Disgusting #NTFC

@RsSharpless: The referee was an absolute c**t! Didn’t cost us a win but could easily have caused us a defeat nearer the end! Good night staying over in Cambridge nonetheless! 🇱🇻

@RMcCarthy98: I’ve not seen a ref as bad as that one today was well out of his depth. His assistant over by us was just as bad

@JoeAtkin_95: How has that shit excuse of a referee missed this. That’s assault!

@dannybrothers: How on earth is this not spotted? He’s taken him out! #ntfc

@cobblerscoombsy: League One refs never fail to amaze me

@Hurlinho_: Shock the officials didn’t see it

@The92updates: How no one has seen this is genuinely insane

@davidkn85: One of a few incidents the ref missed today. #ntfc

@OliDunk13: Right infront of the lino, not even a foul

@craig_lovesey91: How the fuck has the lino not seen that. It Looked bad from our position

@cobblerben: League One refs eh. Expect the @efl apology in the post @ntfc. Or just ask @StockportCounty to forward any of their three over.

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