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Aston Villa manager John Gregory has vowed not to stop criticising referees and is considering putting £50,000 into a
special bank account from which the Football Association can deduct directly any fines handed out to him.
Gregory will be in the FA dock at St Andrews on Wednesday for the second time this season - for remarks made to fourth official Andy D'Urso in the recent FA Carling Premiership match at Leicester. He has already been fined this season after a bust-up with another fourth official - Jeff Winter - on the opening day of the season against Newcastle at St James' Park. But Gregory, who could face a touch-line ban if the FA decide to come down hard on him, is so concerned about refereeing standards and the spate of red and yellow cards that he will not keep his mouth shut. Gregory said: ``The amount of cards being produced is ruining our game. It can't be allowed to carry on which is why I continue to speak my mind. ``Perhaps I should put £50,000 in the bank, give the FA my credit details and then they can direct debit me over the course of the season. ``Gordon Strachan once said the problem with referees is that they know the laws but don't know the game. I would have to agree. ``The referee's report forms don't have enough room on them for all the bookings. It's laughable but these kind of performances by referees are ruining the game. ``Referees don't seem to be able to tell the difference between intentional fouls and genuine attempts to go for the ball.'' Gregory added: ``Until they stop worrying about impressing the assessors in the stands and control games with commonsense there will always be mistakes made. ``It's not a case of television making their job harder - but they have to get closer to the ball which means referees being fitter and younger.'' The FA will also take account other outbursts from Gregory in recent weeks against the likes of Winter, after he sent off Gareth Southgate at Filbert Street, and David Elleray over his penalty decision at Sunderland. Carling Net |