PETER WALTON has claimed that TNT Sports made a “mistake” by sacking him.
The former Premier League referee lost his job in a shake-up which saw Laura Woods join as a new presenter.
He left TNT Sports as they reshuffled their line-up of presenters and pundits following a rebrand from BT Sport.
Walton, who was a Premier League referee for almost 20 years, had worked for the broadcaster for several seasons.
TNT Sports are set to go without a refereeing expert for the upcoming campaign following his departure.
That is despite Mike Dean joining Sky Sports to provide insight into officials’ decisions.
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Walton has slammed this decision, telling BettingSites.co.uk: “I do think it’s a mistake because, like it or not, match officials are part of that entertainment package that we now want to see.
“So by doing away with that I think TNT have missed a trick and Sky have said ‘well we will’ because we can see the value in it.
“If they’ve got a product that another broadcaster doesn’t have, then good for them and we’ll see the results when the viewing stats come out!”
The news of Dean’s move to Sky Sports came just hours before Walton departed TNT Sports.
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Following their rebrand, the broadcaster unveiled their line-up of presenters and pundits, including Woods.
Having left talkSPORT, she will take over from Jake Humphrey as the host of TNT Sports’ Champions League coverage this season.
Walton has also reflected on the differences between being a referee and a pundit.
He added: “I think I got more abuse, for want of a better word, in my latter years as a broadcaster rather than as an active referee.
“Everyone’s got an opinion which is fine, but when it gets personal that’s a bit disappointing because I’m only saying what my opinion is and trying to back it up with law, and I don’t make the law I only implement it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
