Former World Cup referee Clive Thomas criticises standards

A former top-level British referee has criticised modern officials following a string of controversial decisions in the Premier League over Easter weekend.
Ex-World Cup referee Clive Thomas said: "I've lost faith in referees. I think refs are missing things."


QPR manager Mark Hughes and Wigan boss Roberto Martinez both spoke out after key incidents went against their sides in the battle to avoid relegation.
"You should have confidence that referees will get key decisions right," said Hughes after the final whistle. "Just lately a lot of managers have lost faith in them."
Welshman Thomas, 75, refereed at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, and the 1976 European Championships.
And he reckons Hughes is "100% right" to question referees' abilities following the dismissal of Shaun Derry during Rangers' 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.
Thomas said: "We haven't got our act together at all.
"I don't see that the referees of today are even in the right positions to give right decisions. That concerns me.
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"Referees today are concerned, it seems, far more about what the assessors think of them, and are not thinking how to referee a game.
"It never worried me what the assessors would say."
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was sent for two bookable offences in the defeat by Arsenal on Sunday, but much post-match coverage focused on a challenge on Alex Song which went unpunished.
Thomas said: "That tackle was a disgrace. The studs were up and went on the player's leg. He should have been sent off then but he wasn't.
"The referee was right there. If he didn't see it, why didn't he see it? That would be my concern if I was the referee.
"I was far better than modern refs. British referees were better than they are today.
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