Breaking News: ‘One of the worst I have seen’: Oft-criticised figure set to officiate Portsmouth’s Championship trip to Luton.
The EFL has confirmed the officials for this weekend’s round of Championship matches. Sam Allison has been named manager of Pompey’s Championship trip to Kenilworth Road on Saturday, where John Mousinho’s side will try for their fourth consecutive league win. In December 2023, the pioneering match official became the first black referee to oversee a Premier League fixture in 15 years, when Sheffield United faced Luton Town. Despite his accomplishments, the 44-year-old and Pompey have a chequered relationship.
Former Blues manager Danny Cowley criticised Allison’s performance during his team’s EFL Trophy match against Crawley in August 2022, when the man-in-the-middle awarded the Red Devils two questionable penalties. Cowley did not mince words after confronting Allison following the game. He told The News: “I think that was one of the worst displays of refereeing I’ve seen.” I like him; he’s a really good man. I don’t want to say this, but I’m just telling you the truth about what I think – and I feel compelled to say it because I love football and we need to improve. “The FA have to do better, the EFL have to do better, this is such a shame.” all these people come here and the game is just farcical.
“The referee slips and falls in the middle of the pitch.” Okay, these things happen; he gets in the way of our midfielder, is unable to pick up the second ball, and then fails to blow his whistle, restore his calm, and end the game.
‘He then allows the play to continue and calls the softest of penalties – a completely soft penalty. ‘He gave them a penalty in the first half that I thought was soft. He then gave them another penalty in injury time, which I thought summed up his performance. ‘He gave them a penalty in the first half that I thought was soft. He then gave them another penalty in injury time, which I thought summed up his performance.
‘I believed he was quite poor for both teams. We were all giggling; we had no idea what he was going to say next or which way he was headed.
Pompey fans’ complaints.
When Pompey fans learnt of this weekend’s refereeing appointment, they weren’t surprised to see Allison’s name. On X, formerly Twitter, @jeffharris_665 joked: ‘We’ve gone from being dead certs of beating Luton to probably losing now that Sam Allison is the ref! It’s a conspiracy to prevent us from winning four consecutive games. Meanwhile, another Blues supporter, @Frattonegg, commented: ‘Oh dear. As previously stated, he is most likely the kindest man you could ever meet, as well as a brave ex-fireman. But, when it comes to refereeing, let us just say he’s a shining example of modern officiating standards.
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