Video technology should be introduced to English football to help referees avoid errors after West Brom defender Gareth McAuley was sent off in a case of mistaken identity on Saturday, referees’ chief Mike Riley said.
McAuley was shown the red card after 90 seconds against Manchester City when referee Neil Swarbrick failed to identify Craig Dawson as the culprit in bringing down Wilfried Bony.
“We need to see what technology we can use to help get referees’ decisions more accurate,” Riley told BBC radio. “Football as a whole has to look at it.”
“Neil had four or five elements to judge in half a second and it is that type of situation that would lend itself to technology.”
Falcao a headache for Colombia coach
Radamel Falcao is “a big problem in need of a solution” for the Colombia team given his lack of playing time and goals for Manchester United, coach Jose Pekerman said.
Pekerman named Falcao in his squad for Copa America warm-up games against Bahrain and Kuwait this week.
“Of course he’s a big problem in need of a solution, as big as the sadness Falcao must have at the moment,” Pekerman said.
“But because I know Falcao’s worth, his mentality, his fighting spirit, I have never doubted he’ll get out of this situation.”
Pardew berates McArthur over dive
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has berated his own player James McArthur for a dive in the Premier League win at Stoke on Saturday, saying the midfielder should feel embarrassed.
McArthur was booked for simulation early in the second half at the Britannia Stadium after going down in the penalty area.
“He dived,” Pardew told Sky Sports. “He should be embarrassed. He’s a great professional and that’s unlike him.
“We keep moaning about diving but it grates on me. I was surprised but it shows what pressure does to players.”
Premier League exposed – Moyes
Former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes believes failure in Europe has exposed declining standards in the Premier League.
Moyes, now in charge of Spanish side Real Sociedad, said: “Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal are all exceptional teams in their own right and they’ll be disappointed they went out, and maybe on another day they’d have gone through.
“It’s just becoming a wee bit of a habit that we’re not getting our teams quite as close to the final as we had in the past.
“I think this year you’d have to say it’s probably the poorest Premier League I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
England players lack exposure – Pele
Pele believes England are counting the cost of their player pool being concentrated in the Premier League rather than cast across the world.
“The team is good. But to talk about the England team – it is very difficult you see when the England team plays outside (England),” Pele said.
“The players who play in England, they don’t have experience of playing abroad.
“There is not a player who used to play in Japan, or play in Africa, or play in South America.
“I think this is one of the reasons when you have the big competition, the players they have a problem.”
Forster and Shaw blows for England
England have been hit by two injury blows ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania this week with goalkeeper Fraser Forster almost certain to miss out and defender Luke Shaw a definite withdrawal.
Southampton’s Forster was injured in the game against Burnley on Saturday, prompting England manager Roy Hodgson to call up Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Rob Green and promote Stoke City’s Jack Butland from the Under-21 squad.
Tottenham Hotspur’s left-back Danny Rose has also been called into the squad for the match against Lithuania at Wembley on Friday and the friendly with Italy the following Tuesday after Manchester United’s Shaw pulled out with injury.
Davis emotional after Saints win
Kelvin Davis has revealed he had to control his emotions as he marked his first Southampton appearance in over a year with a string of superb saves in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Burnley.
The 38-year-old goalkeeper was called upon when first-choice Fraser Forster was carried off on a stretcher in the early stages of the contest.
“Stepping on to the pitch and hearing the fans was special moment,” Davis said.
“It was real touching. Real emotional. You’ve got to control that and think of the job in the hand.
“It was a great feeling. It made me feel very welcome. Some memories coming flooding back from when I was doing that week in, week out.”