Marriott : "Video replays must be used"

By Nathan Jackson
August 11 2004

Alan Marriott has spoken to the Lincolnshire Echo and has demanded video replays start being used after last night's controversial draw against Southend which saw Marriott conceed a penalty for merely kicking the ball out for a throw.

Firstly, lets sum it up with this quote from Marriott.

"It was never a penalty. And if it was, then why wasn't I booked or sent off?"

The Imps were 1-0 up thanks to Gary Taylor Fletcher's 2nd of the season in the 9th minute but then 23 minutes later came a contender for most controversial moment of the season. The ball was put through for Gray but Marriott got to the ball and kicked it out BEFORE Gray even got anywhere near Marriott before he stumbled without falling over. The referee awarded a penalty from which Gray scored.

Marriott is now calling for video replays to be used to help/correct the referee's decisions.

"I know it might cost clubs money to install a big screen, but I think the time has come for referees to be able to look at replays before making decisions."

"That decision has cost us. They were never in the game until then, but it gave them a spark.

"That's two points dropped and you don't know how that might cost us come the end of the season.

"Something has to be done.

"I know first year referees have to get experience somewhere, but they are killing games for us. It sounds like a sob story but we keep getting stuck with them.

"Wayne Gray has even had a little laugh about it after the game, but he's not going to come out and say he blatantly dived. I'm wounded by it.

However, first year ref Gary Lewis, is followed on Saturday by another first year ref Clive Oliver from Northumberland. City have felt the force of referees over the seasons. 2 years ago, Paul Rejer gave a penalty to Oxford in the last minute for the ball hitting Scott Willis' face and his hands down by his sides. Last season was the turn of George Cain who allowed the most offside goal you'll ever see to stand but in George's defence, that was his only bad decision in an otherwise good performance.

"The only person in the stadium who has not seen me get a foot to the ball and him fly off me was the linesman. He was the closest to it yet he got it so wrong and it brought back memories of Huddersfield last season when George Cain awarded that goal when Pawel Abbott was offside - they are so hard to take for the lads."