Wenger: Learn The Rules, Refs!
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Arsene Wenger has called for more consistency and player protection from referees, highlighting the treatment Theo Walcott received during Arsenal's midweek Champions League clash.
To say Walcott was heavily marked during Wednesday's clash against Dynamo Kiev would be an understatement. The 19-year-old winger was upended nine times by Dynamo left-back Andriy Nesmachniy, who received only a yellow card for his ultra-physical approach.
Wenger said after the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, that Nesmachniy should have been sent off three times over, and he maintains that the Ukrainian defender's methods were highly unsportsmanlike.
The French tactician said in The Sun: “Unfortunately for a player who gets a name for being dangerous, the first answer he gets is harsh treatment.
“I thought Wednesday night, for example, the target was not the ball.
“If a guy plays hard it is down to Theo to deal with it. But if the guy targets Theo, he has to be punished.”
Wenger's criticisms of the referee could land him in hot water with UEFA given the ongoing focus on respecting the officials' authority.
But the Arsenal manager was careful with his wording when he hinted that perhaps all referees should brush up on the basic laws of the game rather than overcomplicate matters with obscure interpretations.
He added: “We do not expect presents from anybody but we want protection from referees.
“You do not want any special pressure on the referees but it is all in the rule book.
“If, for example, you allow the first bad tackle then the second becomes difficult for a referee to deal with.” -
wow.. wenger found another exquse