Pulis could appeal over £10k ref-rap fine

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is considering an appeal against his £10,000 fine imposed for comments made about referee Lee Probert last month.

The Potters boss was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following his criticism of the official after the 2-1 Carling Cup exit at home to Liverpool a month ago.

He denied the charge before, after a personal hearing, an independent regulatory commission ruled against him and the FA imposed the fine and issued Pulis with a warning about his future conduct.

However, the Welshman is unhappy with the result and will await further detailed information from the commission before deciding on his next move.

“I am very disappointed with the outcome,” he said. “I have requested written reasons and I am considering an appeal.”

Pulis was furious with Probert after the Potters' defeat to Kenny Dalglish’s side on October 26.

He claimed the official should have sent off Jamie Carragher for a challenge on Matthew Etherington and was also critical of decisions to disallow a Jon Walters 'goal' and not give Stoke a penalty for a foul on Peter Crouch.

Carragher was only booked after the Etherington incident, which prompted the Stoke boss to say after the match: “It was a poor challenge.

“If one of our players had committed it, I would have expected him to get sent off.”

Of Crouch being denied a spot-kick, he said: “The referee had a great view of it and didn’t give it and that’s disappointing.

“You have to have a level playing field - you can’t have it both ways, and he (Probert) has done that in my opinion.

“He has not made the correct decisions.”

Pulis also went on to refer to previous Stoke matches where he thought Probert had made poor decisions.

That prompted an FA charge earlier this month and has ultimately led to a fine and a warning about his behaviour.