The real-time disintegration of Roy Hodgson continued after Crystal Palace’s crushing 2-1 defeat against Liverpool. The 76-year-old coach railed with a certain bitterness and a good deal of sadness at everything from Jordan Ayew’s second yellow card, the interpretation of the handball law to fourth officials who try to stop coaches from stepping out of their technical area. “I’ve been in football a long time,” he said, “and games like today make me realise that when the day comes to leave it behind, I won’t be missing anything.”
Palace were harshly treated by the referee, Andy Madley, who issued eight yellow cards to the home side, including one to Hodgson. “We’re talking too much about the referees,” Hodgson told TNT Sport, before going on to talk for several minutes about the referee. “I am absolutely sick of the handball interpretations, the yellow cards for time-wasting.
