Updated: 22:50
Brendan Rodgers has clarified his comments about Lee Mason saying that he was not questioning the integrity of referees, just the logic of appointing someone from Greater Manchester to officiate a game involving a team from Manchester.
Though surely if he believes that the official has integrity then where he is from should not be an issue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A939HRxLLRY#t=114
12:15
Brendan Rodgers - he never speaks about the officials, but when he does he makes it worthwhile.
According to the BBC, the FA are going to investigate Rodgers for his comments which appeared to question the impartiality of Lee Mason.
Rodgers described Mason and his assistants as "horrendous" for their performance during the Man City and Liverpool game on St. Stephen's Day and went on to question why someone from Greater-Manchester was officiating the game.
From The Telegraph:
We had no help from the officials. They were horrendous said Rodgers. “We never got any decision for us. The linesman for the offside one – they’re not even on the same cut of grass. It is not even a difficult one.
"It is a perfectly timed run when he was through on goal, the kind of move we have worked hard on. You can’t get a decision like that wrong at this level. They are big moments in a big game.
“There was another incident where Luis didn’t get a free-kick when Joleon Lescott comes through and it was waved play on. It is arguable it is a penalty at the end. But it was throughout the game.
"Hopefully we don’t have a Greater Manchester referee again on a Liverpool-Manchester game. I was surprised we were playing in Manchester and have a referee from Greater Manchester.
“I never speak about officials but I feel the need to protect the players this evening. They were outstanding and got nothing.
"Come the end of the game, the next day or two, I will get a call from an assessor and be asked for my opinion of the performance. I would ask the question. I am sure we won’t get Liverpool-Man City [refereed by] someone from the Wirral.”
As you can see below, Raheem Sterling was well onside for the decision which Rodgers references in his comments.
