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Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom launched an epic attack on officials after his side lost 2-1 at Tottenham on Saturday, suggesting that they told him how his side should play to avoid punishment.<\/p>\n
There was a seriously dramatic finale in north London as Spurs scored twice in injury time to come from behind and beat the Blades 2-1.<\/p>\n
The goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski came in the 98th and 100th minutes, with United\u2019s Oli McBurnie then sent off in the 114th minute.<\/p>\n
Heckingbottom was left fuming, but claimed that the result had nothing to do with his anger, slamming the new focus on clamping down on time-wasting this season.<\/p>\n
The former Barnsley boss said that he was even told to play long from goal-kicks because their preferred choice of playing out from the goalkeeper was taking too long.<\/p>\n
\u2018Something needs to be done now,\u2019 raged Heckingbottom. \u2018The referees are killing the game, absolutely ruining it. This is not me moaning about the result. I said it at half-time and when we were 1-0 up as well.\u2019<\/p>\n
He told Sky Sports: \u2018The officiating is appalling. It\u2019s not about the football decisions, just game management. My worry is that all the focus is on the yellow cards, time-wasting, the new guidelines.<\/p>\n
\u2018The focus all of a sudden comes onto time-wasting, so they\u2019re dictating how we play. If you play to take goal kicks from the back, you set up one way, and if Spurs go against that, that dictates the decision you make.<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019re getting told to just play long \u2013 you can\u2019t do it. Wes [Foderingham] got booked for handling outside the box and then you\u2019re threatening him with another yellow [for dissent], you just can\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n
\u2018When I speak to the referees, they haven\u2019t got a clue what I\u2019m talking about. They\u2019re officiating our games at the top level, and they simply do not know the game. We need to sort that, and sort it quick. It ruined the spectacle.\u2019<\/p>\n
The complaints did not end there, saying it is \u2018sad\u2019 what is happening to football, as he sympathised with McBurnie for getting a second yellow card late on.<\/p>\n
\u2018You see all the frustration,\u2019 he said. \u2018Both teams, both sides, both teams taking the mickey out of the ref and to sum it all up, we get Ollie McBurnie sent off for telling the referee someone\u2019s pulling his shirt.<\/p>\n
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\u2018We\u2019ve just seen someone turning their back, jumping into our goalkeeper, leading with an elbow, he needs stitches \u2013 and that\u2019s deemed the same offence. What\u2019s going on with our game?<\/p>\n
\u2018This is irrespective of our performance, of our game. I would\u2019ve said the same things at 0-0 or when we were 1-0 up.<\/p>\n
\u2018My worry is where we\u2019re taking our game, and I say this when I speak to Howard [Webb]. The people who don\u2019t know anything about football are directing which way the game goes, and it\u2019s sad. That was sad today.\u2019<\/p>\n
McBurnie tweeted after the match: \u2018Not even allowed to speak to referees these days but certain teams\/players allowed to run up to them multiple times in a game with no problems.\u2019<\/p>\n
Not even allowed to speak to referees these days but certain teams\/players allowed to run up to them multiple times in a game with no problems \u00f0\u009f\u00a4\u00b7\u00f0\u009f\u008f\u00bc<\/p>\n