Richard Keys believes that Fulham fans have ever right to feel aggrieved after Lewis Smith refereed Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa.
Fulham were hoping to build on a home win over Bournemouth but couldn’t repeat the trick against Villa.
Ollie Watkins bagged a brace to put Villa 2-0 up before Rodrigo Muniz pulled one back.
It just wasn’t to be for Fulham but rather than focus on the performance, some have looked towards the refereeing choices…
Richard Keys comments on Fulham refereeing situation
Lewis Smith was given the nod to referee this one with the 30-year-old handed a major chance.
Smith was refereeing in the National League less than a year ago and became the youngest Premier League referee since Michael Oliver in 2010, as noted by the Daily Mail.
Yet it’s suggested that Smith is viewed as ‘as one of the best of the next generation of officials’ by Howard Webb and his group.
Smith was therefore given a chance to shine against Fulham and the decision has caused some uproar.
Rebecca Welch was in a similar boat earlier this season, making her debut as a Premier League referee when Fulham lost 2-0 to burnley in December.
Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has now written in his weekly column that Fulham have become ‘guinea pigs’ as the Premier League test new referees at Craven Cottage.
Keys thinks that Fulham fans have ‘every right’ to be annoyed and reminded the Premier League that Fulham’s games matter as much as anybody else’s.
“Fulham fans have got every right to ask why their club are always used as guinea pigs when it comes to giving new refs a run-out. Of course the process of finding new blood is important – but it doesn’t always have to be at Craven Cottage. Fulham’s games matter every bit as much as any other teams,” said Keys.
We don’t really believe that the Premier League or the PGMOL are looking at Fulham games as an easy baptism for new referees.
A big mistake in a Fulham v Aston Villa game would still make headlines; it’s not like these referees are being hidden away.
These referees need a Premier League chance somewhere and it just so happened to be at Fulham – but a third such situation may really set conspiracy theories into motion!