Paul Heckingbottom criticized referee Peter Bankes for the fact that he lacked knowledge about the game when Tottenham Hotspur made a great comeback against Sheffield United.
At half-time, when the score was still at 0-0, Paul Heckingbottom had a talk with the referee to explain to him why goalkeeper Wes Foderingham took his time to play from the back. His team was trying to make some adjustments to suit Ange Postecoglou’s new tactics for Tottenham during the game.
However, the Blades manager revealed that the referee had instructed him to “Play Long” instead of playing from the back, as he said in a press conference.
Heckingbottom slammed those involved, saying they had a “terrible understanding of the game” and said he thought “Tottenham would say the same thing.”
It was a heartbreaking end for a Yorkshire side who took just 97 minutes to claim their first three points of the season. H
However, Richarlison came back to life after that, and Heckingbottom didn’t have a problem with the result but rather with the referee’s performance.
Paul Heckingottom Slams Referee Peter Bankes
“Look, this isn’t funny,” Heckingbottom said. “The referees are trying to destroy the game at the moment, and you are ruining it. This will absolutely ruin it, and there is no concern about the result. You can see me from 0-0 as he tells the goalkeeper to hurry up.
“So, we split up for the playoffs, and then we made the playoffs again and got eliminated a few times. So what are the Spurs going to do? They change. Because when you put the ball down, the Spurs change.
Wes (Foderingham) has to make different decisions and is told to play. Spurs have adapted to us. We have to change again and play something different. The referees are showing how ignorant they are about the game.
“I’ll show you at halftime. I wanted to show them that I know they can’t see it. I won’t wait too long for a shot on goal.” It will be recorded within 10 seconds from the moment you shut down.
With the Spurs changing their approach, Wes has to make a different decision and cannot make one until the Spurs make a move.
“The referees have no idea. You have no idea what I’m talking about. The answer to me was, “Then let’s take a long shot.”
So we worked all week thinking about how we wanted to play, but the referee is a dictator for us. This can’t happen – this game is terrible to understand, I said after the game. I’m sure Spurs would say the same thing.”
Tottenham Piles More Misery on Sheffield United
It was a truly fantastic win for Heckingbottom’s side, earning them the three points they desperately needed after promotion.
It was a truly great win for Heckingbottom’s side, earning them the three points they desperately needed after promotion.
But even for the best players, losing in a match like that is unacceptable.
