Monday, August 17, 2009

Rafael Benitez furious with the match official decision.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez launched a stinging attack on the match officials after seeing his side lose their opening game of the season 2-1 to Tottenham.

Benitez was outraged after referee Phil Dowd turned down two penalty appeals with his side trailing to goals from Benoit Assou-Ekotto and debutant Sebastien Bassong.

Assou-Ekotto appeared to block off Andriy Voronin and then handle the ball in the penalty area, but each time Dowd turned down the Reds' appeals.

"Everybody could see there was a penalty against Voronin. It was so clear, it is unbelievable," said Benitez.

"With this referee, I knew this (another penalty) was impossible.

"We had a meeting the other day and they said we cannot talk about the referee as a person or the decisions, but I think everybody today could see the situation."

Benitez was also unhappy with fourth official Stuart Atwell after seeing his number two, Sammy Lee, sent to the stands for protesting.

"For the fourth official, he is a young referee and maybe he has to calm down a little bit," added the Spaniard.

"I do not know how old he is, but the fourth official is too young."

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