Imps get Premiership ref for Mariners' clash

By theimps.tk
March 22 2006

Lincoln City will finally get a Premiership referee for a match as Kent official Steve Bennett takes charge on Saturday. It is the first time that the official will officate the Imps since he ran the rule over the Imps 2nd leg playoff clash against Scunthorpe United, a match City won 1-0.

The 45 year old is rated as one of the best referee's in the English game but came under critisism recently as he sent off Xavi Alonso for a second bookable offence in Liverpool's trip to Arsenal. The controversy came when Alonso tripped into Senderos and Bennett, who wasn't even looking at the incident, gave the Spanish midfielder a second yellow without even asking anyone what happened.

There was a talking point in the last game he had for Imps as midway through the second half when a Scunthorpe defender launched a 2 footed tackle at Imps striker, Dene Cropper's knees. Cropper went down injured but not only did Bennett not allow Imps physio, Keith Oakes to treat Cropper but only gave the defender a yellow card for one of the most blatent red cards you're ever likely to see.

Bennett has been very card happy this season and in his 33 games, he has given out 117 yellow cards and 10 red cards, one of the highest amounts in the UK. 15 of those 33 games have ended with the home side getting a victory whereas the away side only took the maximum points on 7 occasions with the other 11 ending as draws.