NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO has copped a £25,000 fine from the FA for openly criticising referee Lee Mason following defeat at Burnley.
Wolves went down 2-1 at Turf Moor on December 21 and afterwards the incensed Portuguese head coach refused to pull his punches during a series of explosive post-match interviews.
Nuno Espirito Santo launched a blistering attack on Lee Mason after Wolves’ 2-1 defeat by BurnleyCredit: PA:Press Association
The Portuguese head coach was fined £25,000 after claiming Lee Mason isn’t fit to referee in the Prem
“I don’t like it, but I must say it, the referee does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League,” Nuno told Sky Sports.
“This is a problem that we knew. We already had Lee Mason before.
“This is not about the crucial mistakes or the major decisions, it is about the way he handles the game.
“The players get nervous. He whistles by the voices when some players shout.
I don’t like it, but I must say it, the referee does not have the quality to whistle a game in the Premier League
Nuno Espirito Santo On Lee Mason
“He doesn’t have it. So we are talking about the best competition and clearly he doesn’t have the quality to whistle the game.
“I told him I hope that he doesn’t whistle a game involving us again because all the games we have with Lee Mason it is always the same.”
He then went on to tell BBC Sport: “Football is a physical game, a game of contact and referees taking the decisions and being fair, but the referee is not good enough to whistle, Lee Mason is not good enough.
“It is about how he handles the players, both teams are always arguing the decision. He must improve because the game requires good refereeing and good handling of the game so the players can perform.
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“It is his job, he has to improve, he has to get better. When we saw the nomination, we did not understand it because he is a point of distraction. He worsens the flow of the game.”
Nuno refused to back down and apologise for his comments in a press conference 48 hours later.
In addition to the fine, the FA has warned him about his future conduct.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a go at reporter after misunderstanding a question post Man Utd v Wolves
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
