After Irishman Mark Sykes was sent off by referee Lee Doughty during Bristol City's 2-0 win over Luton Town on Tuesday night, his manager Nigel Pearson did not hold back in his post-match press conference.
First half strikes from Nahki Wells and Tommy Conway secured all three points for the Red Robins, but it was the the decisions that went against his side that left a sour taste in his mouth.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Nigel Pearson said:
" In the modern game I've got no complaints against Sykesy (Mark Sykes) , yeah I do have a complaint about the fact their player wasn't dealt with in the same way. I've got to be honest with you, I thought about it last year and I've thought about it already this year. Basically to pack up, being involved in the sport because of how shallow the modern game is and how some of the aspects of the modern game irritate me but the standard of officiating, unfortunately as far as I'm concerned is at an all time low."
Nigel Pearson labels officiating "consistently poor"
Nigel Pearson was then asked whether he tried to get an explanation off the referee about the decisions with the former Leicester and Watford boss saying:
"I can't be bothered to be honest with you. So after the first game at Hull, only this week we had a reply from the authorities to say 'their goal shouldn't have, their first goal, wasn't a penalty' and we should have had two. Which is fair enough at least they can be reasonable enough to give some sort of explanation, but I'm afraid when it happens all the time, we've had it again today, you know Rob Atkinson has been fouled and we should have had another penalty and we didn't get it. So as far as I'm concerned, the integrity of the sport is being compromised.
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"They're consistently poor. And okay, I'll probably get in trouble again for saying what I think but somebody's got to say it. I'm sick to death of, you know, people like me, our jobs are in jeopardy because you know, if we play badly every week I can take losing my job because of that, but what I can't do is put up with the (officiating). For me it's just a worry for the game."
"The standard of officiating is at an all-time low"
Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson admits he's thought about walking away from football 😬 pic.twitter.com/wDguoyde2d— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 17, 2022
Pearson's side have had a mixed start to the campaign and are sitting in 14th place with four points from their opening four games.
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