Silva calls for more consistency from referees

Jack Ottman 6 years ago 261
Silva was unhappy with Zeegelaar's 'harsh' red card against Burnley. Twitter/WatfordFC

Watford boss Marco Silva wants greater consistency from referees after Marvin Zeegelaar's red card in their 1-0 defeat at Burnley.

Zeegelaar was shown a straight red card after 39 minutes in the match at Turf Moor for a two-footed challenge on Steven Defour.

Speaking ahead of Watford's visit to Crystal Palace on Tuesday, Silva repeated that he thought he side were hard done by with the decision.

"I don't have doubts about that, it was very harsh," he said " I can't say more, it is better I stay with these two words, very harsh and for me it had a big influence on the match.

"Our team at that moment were doing well and competing like we compete every time. It was a tough game, the weather was not good as well but we were there to compete and take a good result and that moment had a big influence on the match."

The Portuguese coach claimed that there were challenges similar to Zeegelaar's during the Premier League games on Sunday where players escaped with just a caution.

"I saw matches in the afternoon yesterday, the Liverpool derby and the Manchester derby.

"I saw not one moment like Zeegelaar, I saw more than one and in every moment, yellow card.

"We need to be equalised for everyone, not for one team you make an example and for the other it is a normal situation - the Premier League is a tough game, blah,blah, blah and the other game we will make an example of Watford players or other clubs I could talk about.

"The big matches, the big derbies, okay it's a tough game, a big competition but we need to see the same because it is a fair game

"What I saw in our match were two teams competing really hard and respecting each other during the match and in that moment the referee had a big influence in the match and for me it is not fair.

Finally, Silva confirmed that the Hornets have appealed the sending off ahead of Tuesday's clash at Selhurst Park.

"I don't have doubts, we are appealing at this moment because we feel the decision is not fair."

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