Nuno Espirito Santo is reportedly in trouble for what he said about referee Lee Mason after suffering defeat to Burnley on Monday evening.
The Wolves manager attacked the official, telling him he hopes he never referees one of his side’s matches ever again.
Santo claims Mason isn’t good enough for the Premier League and felt he let Burnley’s players referee the game.
Not impressed.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo probably won’t be sending referee Lee Mason a Christmas card this year… https://t.co/S5JE6coLVj pic.twitter.com/86B569LrKp
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 22, 2020
“The referee does not have the quality for a Premier League game,” said the angry Wolves boss.
“This is a problem we know because we have had Lee Mason before.
“It’s not about a crucial mistake or decision, it’s about how he handles the game.
“The players get nervous, he whistles from the noises from the players. We are talking about the best competition, but he does not have the quality to whistle the game.
“I just don’t want to see him more. I told him I hope he does not whistle a game of ours again.
“He cannot control the players, the players are constantly arguing.”
Mason chose not send off Joao Moutinho for a challenge (alleged stamp) on Josh Brownhill late on in the game, which was reviewed by VAR.
Fair to say that Nuno couldn’t blame the ref for his side’s 2-1 defeat.
Wolves were disappointing to say the least against Burnley with Clarets strikers Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood finding the net.
Both scored as Barnes ended his 17-game goal drought with his first since November 2019 to lift Burnley out of the bottom three in and up to 16th in the Premier League table, their highest position this season.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche speaking to BBC Sport: “I thought it was deserved. Generally over the last five or six games performances have been good, including tonight.
“We created some great chances and, hyper-critically, we could have had the game sealed earlier on. It is a very important result, the players have worked hard.
“Sometimes you have to change things and Ashley (Barnes) has been sharp in training. I believe stats start coming your way and they have. We have been creating chances.”
Wood was close to scoring with a bicycle kick and Barnes was denied by Rui Patricio when Nick Pope put him through with a long clearance.
Barnes put Burnley in front after 35 minutes on the clock. Wood picked out Taylor’s overlapping run and the left-back crossed to the back post for Barnes to head home.
Wolves were below par despite dominating possession and Brownhill also hit the bar from a shot in another sign of Burnley’s bigger threat.
The Clarets knew how to control Wolves and got their second goal on the 51st minute, Ben Mee powered Ashley Westwood’s free-kick across the box for Wood to smash the ball home from close range when it came off Rayan Ait-Nouri.
It came to a nervy finish with substitute Josh Benson needlessly bundling over Fabio Silva to concede a penalty seconds after coming on, Wolves’ record £36million signing hit the ball powerfully into the net on the 89th minute mark for his first senior goal for the club.
Player ratings
Burnley: Pope (7), Lowton (7), Mee (8), Tarkowski (8), Taylor (8), McNeil (7), Brownhill (8), Westwood (8), Brady (7), Wood (8), Barnes (8)
Subs used: Benson (5), Pieters (6)
Wolves: Patricio (7), Saiss (6), Coady (6), Kilman (5), Ait-Nouri (5), Semedo (6), Neves (5), Moutinho (6), Otasowie (5), Podence (6), Neto (6)
Subs used: Traore (6), Silva (7), Vitinha (6)
Man of the match: Charlie Taylor
Fans reacted after seeing that Nuno could be in trouble for what he said about referee after the Burnley defeat…
@freezinwolf: I didn’t think Lee Mason was particularly bad… I don’t recall any particular thing where I was exasperated with him. Bit strange him talking to Podence after Podence was fouled, but that’s it.
@lupin_1877: He’s right though….there were a couple of times in the 1st half where the bully boys of Burnley nailed Otasowie, and Mason let it go…I’m afraid he’s just another ref who should be labelled inept, and put out to graze…..fuckin shambles..
@KelvinPhelpsk: At last a manager with the balls to say how it is. He will probably get a ban for telling the truth. But at least he’s honest.
@notsouniquename: Mason was poor but I think Nuno would be better looking at his selection rather than criticising the ref
@GrumpyDad3: I bloody love Nuno. If the FA decides to fine him, I’m sure someone amongst his Pack will set up a crowd fund to pay it for him!!
@RodJone75746225: He was poor but can’t see how he’s cost us the game. Nuno feeling a bit of pressure maybe.
@marklfcbyatte: Lee Mason is wank
@warsamefooty: Watch the arrogant refs now target Wolves and rob them every game. Everyone knows you can’t question speak on the refs like this.
@Lucas_Duston7: Lee mason is a shocking ref tbf
@jozzy84: Managers should be able to give their honest view of the refs performance. Lee mason has ref’d many LFC games and he is always awful.
@craigrleroux: I give Nuno credit for having a pair. Does the FA calculate the fine by the word count?
@Christo51747977: Mike Reilly. Head of referees. Enough said.
@Derek27054383: He’ll get sanctioned for this but fair play to him for speaking up, no point having great players and coaches and then some of the shithouse refs that are there.
@_Riddxck: YESSSS NUNOOOOO
@tubogrey: This man should be ready to write a check and watch the game from the dressing room.
Jason: Well that’s Nuno in trouble for what he said about the referee
Fine coming Nuno’s way or Christmas. A lot of refs in the premier league are not up to the job, but are so protected they cant be critised!
— Lee Herbert (@leeherb19) December 22, 2020
You can when week in week out the refs are shite in the biggest league of the world
— Dan Harvey (@mrdannyh) December 22, 2020
Nothing different than we’ve been saying for several seasons….
— John Brettell (@john_brettell) December 22, 2020
Lee Mason is tier 4 of referees…still remember the scandalous offside decision agst us at the Etihad 13/14
— ato (@kulawgnn) December 21, 2020
Yep was just thinking that, the PL will do everything to protect their own no matter how ridiculously shit they are at their jobs
— J P 🎄 (@JP10n) December 21, 2020

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