Seething Stuart King insists respect must be a two-way street after a doughty Carrick Rangers performance came to naught at Solitude at the weekend.
King’s well-drilled side held Cliftonville at arms’ length for much of Saturday’s clash only to come undone when referee Declan Hassan awarded the home side a penalty in the 77th minute after consulting with his assistant.
The delayed decision looked the correct one, with Carrick defender Steven Gordon rashly lunging in on Chris Curran when all he had to do was shepherd the ball out of play.
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Ryan Curran coolly converted the spot-kick but King’s rancour concerned the manner in which the penalty was awarded, as he felt there was a high degree of uncertainty between the officials.
“All the managers got an email from NIFL today about respect for referees and I genuinely had to bite my tongue so hard before I could say anything,” said the Carrick boss after the game.
“For the penalty, I’m told the linesman has pointed his flag for a corner kick. I haven’t seen it but that’s what I’ve been told.
“Declan Hassan hasn’t made the decision to award a penalty and the fourth official has told me the linesman has made the decision. But his initial reaction is that it’s a corner kick and whatever has been said in the comms has changed his mind and the linesman has then said that it’s a penalty kick.
“You talk about respect… if it’s a penalty, it’s a penalty, we’ll hold our hands up and say so, but what the hell’s the delay about? What’s been said over the comms?”
Further misery lay in store for King’s men in injury-time as they believed they’d snaffled a point right at the death when Reece Glendinng’s looped header was fumbled into the net by Reds keeper Nathan Gartisde.
Cue wild celebrations among the visitors, only for the officials to burst their balloon after an even lengthier consultation, with Kyle Cherry adjudged to have been offside and interfering with Gartside’s line of vision.
King said: “What’s so frustrating is that Kyle Cherry reacts to the ball after it is past him and the ball goes into the back of the net.
“Some Cliftonville players go to the linesman; other Cliftonville players go to the referee; all their bench goes to the fourth official.
“Me, my staff and my players are all celebrating and two minutes later, he blows his whistle for offside. Again, what the hell’s the delay about?
“And then they expect managers and players to bite their tongue? It’s so hard.
“I genuinely believe his decision-making and overall game has cost us.”
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