Latics chief in plea to referees

Sean Gregan didn’t deserve a straight red card against Hartlepool United, according to Athletic manager John Sheridan.

ATHLETIC manager John Sheridan has called for greater consistency from referees in the wake of Sean Gregan’s sending off at Hartlepool.

Sheridan does not believe Gregan’s offence — a challenge near halfway which was deemed a straight red card — warranted such harsh punishment, especially when compared to other tackles.

He said: “I saw a similar incident in the Swansea v Cardiff game a few days later and the player only received a yellow card.

“I understand referees have a very hard job and the game is a lot quicker than it used to be, but we need to get consistency in decision-making because we see things like that happening week in, week out.

“I don’t think Sean should have received a straight red for a mistimed tackle on the halfway line.

“It was not dirty. He caught the lad around his ankle and he got up straight away from the tackle.”

There are often big discrepancies in the way incidents are handled — and more evidence cropped up against Huddersfield on Saturday.

A challenge by Town captain Jon Worthington was far worse than Gregan’s offence seven days earlier, yet a different referee took a more tolerant approach.

Gregan, whose last sending off was way back in August 1999, is now serving a three-match ban.