After Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo criticised the refereeing performance of Lee Mason in his side’s defeat to Burnley, the FA have now launched an investigation, report Holly Percival and Tim Spiers of The Athletic.
FA Launch Investigation Over Nuno Espirito Santo Lee Mason Comments
What Was Said?
Speaking after his team’s 2-1 defeat at Turf Moor on Monday night, Espirito Santo said: “The referee does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League.
“Honestly I don’t like to say it, but I must say it because I will not feel right: the referee does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League.
“This is a problem that we knew. We already had Lee Mason before. It is not about the crucial mistakes or the decisions, it is about the way that he handles the game.”
The Wolves boss has now been asked for his observations ahead of the investigation by the FA.
Should it be deemed that what was said was about Mason’s decisions, then there will be no punishment for Espirito Santo.
However, if it is decided that it was personal, then he could be charged under the FA Rule E3 (1), which states: “A Participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”
Continuing with his rant, Espirito Santo added: “It is his job. He has to improve, he has to get better. It isn’t about the major, crucial decisions. It is the way he handles the players – both teams lose their focus, they are always arguing the decision.
“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, he does not have the quality to whistle a Premier League game.”
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