WIGAN MANAGER Roberto Martinez has received an apology from referees’ chief Mike Riley following his side’s controversial defeat at Chelsea on Saturday.
The English Football Association have also confirmed the Spaniard will not face disciplinary action over post-match comments in which he claimed Wigan were “robbed” and the performance of an assistant referee was “disgusting”.
Relegation-threatened Wigan were beaten 2-1 in a stormy Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge after Branislav Ivanovic and Juan Mata struck from apparently offside positions. Martinez spoke to Riley, of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, the day after the game and says he was told the body accepted mistakes were made. Martinez said: “He just said he understands that at the level of refereeing in this league, they should get that call right.”
Martinez was strong in his criticism of the officials, particularly assistant Dave Bryan, but, after speaking to Riley, had not been expecting FA action over his remarks.
Bryan was stood down from last night’s game between Blackburn and Liverpool.
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