Atkins Claims Referee Bias

Last updated : 08 November 2004 By Richard Evans
Bristol Rovers manager Ian Atkins stunned a post-match press conference on Saturday with a fuming tirade of abuse aimed at League Two referees. After losing to a hotly disputed late twice-taken Lee Trundle penalty, Atkins claimed that the Vetch Field had become a stadium where home bias regularly occurs and referees are swayed by large crowds to make contraversial decisions.

Atkins claimed that he had studied Swansea's 3-0 demolition of Kidderminster at the Vetch earlier in the season and been shocked at certain key decisions that he witnessed - claiming that the home supporters were influencing the judgement of the officials. Upon arrival at the Vetch, Atkins then claimed that he was more worried about the officials' performances than that of his Rovers starting line-up.

Nevertheless, many pundits will agree that "what goes around, comes around" in football and most manager's see decisions even themselves out over the course of a season. Kenny Jackett will just be hoping that Atkins' latest outburst won't prove a negative effect on visiting officials in the future.