Graeme Souness has defended his post-match comments that caused a stir with a section of football fans on social media. After Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 at Stamford Bridge, the former Newcastle United manager praised referees for their lenient approach so far this season.
Premier League referees have been instructed to adopt a similar approach to UEFA and allow play to flow unless necessary. This is an attempt to curb simulation from players and prevent wasted time during matches.
Speaking as a Sky Sports pundit post-match, Souness - who won three European Cups with Liverpool in the 70s and 80s - said: “It’s a man’s game all of a sudden again. I think we’ve got our football back, as I would enjoy football. Men at it, blow-for-blow, and the referee letting them get on with it.”
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However, some - including players for the England women’s team - took offence to his comments. Bethany England slammed Slammed Souness’ comments as “disgraceful” so soon after their European Championship triumph.
Less than 24 hours later, Souness was on air for talkSPORT to clarify his post-match analysis. The 69-year-old reiterated his stance was merely aimed at referees giving players more leeway than before - and not a knock on the women’s game.
“Not a word of it (whether he regrets his comments),” Souness said. “Let me explain. I’ve been advocating for years that the referees have such a major part to play in the success of the Premier League.
“We’ve got to be careful what we say today and I’ve not been very good at that, but we were becoming like other leagues. They were blowing the whistle all the time and it wasn’t a good watch.
“Our game has always been unique, more meaty, more in your face, more intense and we had gone away from that. My comments yesterday were saying ‘we’ve got our game back.’ That is the kind of football I remember playing in.
“We’ve got to be better for it. The directive to the referees is long overdue, we’ve got our game back. I enjoyed two games of football yesterday where men were playing men and they got about themselves and were falling out with each other.”
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