SportsViews

Referee Rob Styles is in the spotlight again after issuing a red card and awarding a penalty shot at goal in the premiership game between Newcastle and Manchester City. Once again most observers feel it was a fair tackle and the game should have been allowed to proceed.

Instead, the referee sent off Newcastle’s Habib Beye and awarded a spot kick which was duly converted. This is not the first time that Mr Styles has been in the spotlight. Last month he apologized to Bolton for a similar decision that cost them the game.

The time has probably come for a video referee to review decisions in the penalty box. A wrong decision in the penalty box always has a bearing on the outcome of a game. This decision could have cost Newcastle their position in the premier league next season if they cannot now claw their way out of the relegation zone.

A lot has been said about this match and about the refereeing decision. A lot more has been said about Mr Styles as a referee. Perhaps it is time for him to be retired from the premier league. To continually make poor decisions such as this is a blight on the game and in the long run will do more harm to the sport in general. Have your say on this or any other aspect of sport that may concern you at SportsViews.

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