Outspoken Liverpool icon John Aldridge had some harsh words for referees in England after the Reds’ 2-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.
Aldridge took to X to vent his anger – accusing officials of both incompetence and corruption in his furious tirade.
What did Liverpool legend John Aldridge say?
Writing on his official X page, Aldridge penned: “I have to say the players were defensively brilliant under the circumstances! I feel for Matip big time! But it’s so difficult to play 11 v 11 tonight, it was not right, stinks to high heaven folks. Corrupt.
“I’m sick about tonight, the way it turned out! Well done Spurs. You see if you were an LFC fan as a ref or VAR and there’s a 50/50 decision that helps your team (LFC), eg. Man City get a [possible] pen, you don’t give it. Think about it seriously. It’s happened since the year 1900.
“See the refs say they follow Altrincham, York etc. What a joke!! They hide behind that. Neil Midgley was the head of refs around 1998 and he was a great ref and gent. He told me exactly how it works – CORRUPT. I’ve known it ever since so don’t tell me to hold my tongue. Disgusting.
“It needs investigating for the good of the game!!!! And I’m not sour because of tonight! It is what it is and you all as football fans must realise it and kick up a fuss! Ask the refs association to let us all know who the refs really supported as a kid.”
Is refereeing in the Premier League substandard?
The standard of refereeing in the Premier League has often been called into question – however, the decision to disallow Luis Diaz’s goal on Saturday afternoon was a new low.
Simon Hooper, Darren England and Daniel Coote were all roundly criticised in the fallout of the game – and rightly so. Nevertheless, Aldridge’s accusations of corruption are unnecessary at best – and libellous at worst.
Ultimately, there is no solid proof that there is any form of corruption polluting refereeing in the Premier League – and unless it is uncovered, baseless accusations such as Aldridge’s do little to help matters.