MIDDLESBROUGH: Boro seek clarification over appointment of Sunderland referee for Fulham game

Geoff Eltringham, a former season ticket holder at the Stadium of Light before being added to the national list in 2009, was at the centre of a couple of massive penalty shouts which ultimately determined the outcome on Teesside.

While Eltringham’s integrity is not being questioned by Middlesbrough officials, there has still been an outcry on social media among the club’s supporters wondering how a Black Cats supporter can officiate a Boro match.

Sources close to Middlesbrough have suggested they are considering an approach to the Professional Game Match Officials’ chief Mike Riley to find out what the rules are when deciding who to put in the middle for matches.

The PGMO, the Football League and Premier League does not usually consider factors such as a referee officiating a game that could have implications for a club he supports or one of its local rivals. They do not, though, pick referees to take charge of matches involving a team he supports.

There was a national story in April 2016 when Kevin Friend was replaced for Tottenham’s match with Stoke City following criticism on social media because he was a self-confessed Leicester City fan; the Foxes and Spurs were battling it out for the Premier League title.

It is not the first time Eltringham has overseen a Middlesbrough game either; he was in the middle when Garry Monk’s side turned in the best performance of the season to win 3-0 at Bolton on September 9. He also replaced Rob Jones for the second half in the 2-0 win over Ipswich on December 9.

But the manner of the 1-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday has led to criticism from Middlesbrough supporters, while the players were clearly aggrieved about the two big penalty calls on the day too.

On the hour Eltringham waved play on when Martin Braithwaite was man-handled and shoved to the floor by Fulham defender Tomas Kalas.

Then, with the last attack of the game and the scoreline goalless, the referee pointed to the spot when Oliver Norwood went to ground under a challenge from Grant Leadbitter.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis said: “Looking at the Braithwaite penalty, it is a really disappointing decision.”

 The big thing with managers in professional football, we understand that referees will make mistakes but mistakes affect matches and they should then be called into question. You would love to ask the referee why he didn’t give that as a penalty.  “It has happened to me loads of times and this is another of those occasions. The disappointing thing is that they then get a penalty at the end which was harder to call than the one that we had. Yet he blew straight away and didn’t even think about it. That’s why it is difficult to take, he has his reasons why. I have said afterwards I was really disappointed.”

Leadbitter’s foot did touch the boot of Norwood, who then converted the winner himself, but the fact he Eltringham had dismissed the appeals for a spot-kick half an hour earlier was what really annoyed the Middlesbrough camp.

Pulis said: “The player falls before Grant touches him. The big thing in football at the moment, I have seen it a few times, is when legs tend to buckle without any challenge being made.  “It’s difficult for referees to get right, it’s difficult for people involved in the game to get it right, but my disappointment was I think we had a stonebanker penalty and were not given it – yet he has given that second one and given it straightaway.  “The difference between the two incidents … I would love to speak with him to see what he has seen. Referees are allowed to make mistakes, we all make mistakes, our players have made mistakes, our players have missed opportunities and chances that you’d expect them to put away. It’s not all down to the referee.”

Middlesbrough fan and former Premier League referee Jeff Winter sympathised with Eltringham. He Tweeted: “I have been and always will be a devoted Boro fan, didn’t stop me refereeing Sunderland, Newcastle and Leeds games. Integrity and professionalism overrides supporters’ bias. We lost because we couldn’t score goals.”

While Pulis was clearly frustrated with the crucial penalty decisions he also accepts that Middlesbrough had themselves to blame for a number of missed opportunities.

Rudy Gestede, Braithwaite and Britt Assombalonga all missed fantastic chances to put Middlesbrough in the driving seat long before Norwood had sent goalkeeper Darren Randolph the wrong way in the fifth minute of added time.

Pulis added: “The biggest disappointment is that the opportunities and chances we created, we should be away … you’d expect the players in the team to take those chances.  “I am disappointed because I thought we were the better team, especially in the first-half when we created enough chances to be three or four up by half-time. Fulham didn’t do anything to hurt us in that first half. We were the dominant force. We didn’t play as well in the second half.  “The biggest disappointment is for the chances we created, you would expect the players we have in the team to take those chances. If we had scored the first goal, I think we would have won it comfortably.

“Fulham are a good footballing team and I think they have gone away from here having won but without really creating anything against us.  “They are a team with big numbers, they beat Ipswich by four or five the other week. We needed a goal and if we had scored the first I think we would have gone onto win it in the end. They are always costly misses in the end.”

Pulis is looking to move players on this month to reduce the size of the squad and to enable him to bring his own signings in. Chelsea youngster Lewis Baker looks certain to return to Stamford Bridge early from his loan, while Adam Forshaw was a notable absentee again against Fulham.

It has also emerged Ipswich are interested in signing Adlene Guedioura, who has been left out of the last couple of squads after being handed an instant recall for Pulis’ first couple of matches in charge. Middlesbrough were linked with Hibernian midfielder Jim McGinn over the weekend.

Middlesbrough will head to Queens Park Rangers next week looking for the result that will put them back in the mix to climb into a play-off spot, having been overtaken by Fulham in the battle for a top six place.

The penalty incidents might have caused a stir on Teesside but from a Cottagers point of view there was satisfaction all round – even if Fulham defender Tim Ream thinks Video Assistant Referees (VAR) should be introduced outside the Premier League too if it is eventually given the go-ahead.

"Yes, I think so, as long as it doesn't slow games down too much it's something that I think could definitely be introduced,” said Ream. “The more help officials can get the better because it's hard for referees to get all the major decisions correct and a little help couldn't hurt.

"I've seen both the penalties given so while I won't say we're fortunate, it was nice to see it wasn't given this time round. It just shows how difficult it is for referees, and for them to call things with the naked eye is very difficult.”