Warnock: Referee was 'embarrassing'
Published 22:30 25/09/11 By Neil McLeman
Neil Warnock accused referee Michael Oliver of wanting to give a penalty against QPR yesterday.
And the Hoops boss claimed the 26-year-old official’s failure to award a spot-kick to his side following two big appeals was equally “embarrassing”.
A Richard Dunne own goal in injury time cancelled out Barry Bannan’s 58th-minute penalty in the lively draw.
But Warnock insisted the kick – for Armand Traore’s push on Gabriel Agbonlahor – should never have been awarded by Oliver, the youngest referee in Premier League history.
“Mike Oliver is a young referee and you have to ask certain questions of him,” said Warnock.
“As for the penalty, deary me. It’s embarrassing.
“Traore’s penalty – come on. I’ve never seen anything like that, he blows on him. He wants to give the penalty and he’s wrong. Not one Aston Villa supporter appealed.
“Referees should be seen and not heard and the official made it all about him today, which is a shame as he took away from what was a good performance from us.”
QPR had two shouts for handball against Villa full-back Alan Hutton. Warnock added: “The lad moves his hand down for Shaun Derry’s header – it was the most 100 per cent penalty you will ever see.
“I think the statisticians have put the first Alan Hutton one down as a save. How can he not give it? The first one is embarrassing.”
Although Warnock could face an FA charge, he had support from Rangers owner Tony Fernandes, who tweeted: “This referee is blind.”
Warnock was also furious with Traore for his 90th-minute red card.
He said: “I thought it was a disgrace. Not the referee – the player.
“I’m going to fine him as much as I can. Total amateur, Sunday league sending off.”
Villa boss Alex McLeish said: “It was a penalty. I felt Gabby Agbonlahor was impeded. Traore could have been sent off but I wasn’t screaming out for that.”
