Referees should explain - Sutton

Last updated : 12 April 2010 By BBC Sport

Lincoln City manager Chris Sutton feels match officials should be more willing to explain their decisions when asked to do so by managers and coaches.Sutton was sent to the stands in the Imps' 2-1 win over Bournemouth after querying a yellow card shown to Cian Hughton by referee Paul Tierney.

He told BBC Lincolnshire: "I didn't see Cian kick the ball away, asked the ref why he'd booked him and he sent me off.

"He could have said 'he kicked the ball away' and saved a lot of hassle."

Sutton, who was also sent to the stands against Cheltenham at Sincil Bank in November, feels managers can no longer discuss decisions with match officials without risking punishment.

"You can't speak to people these days," he said.

"I don't mind if things are explained clearly but there were some poor decisions and we asked the fourth official but got no answer.

"If people give you a reason then it's not a problem.

"I'm just asking for a bit of common sense. He's a young ref and that's fine, but if you can't speak to them and discuss things then football's a sadder place now."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport