# Refereeing Decisions Under Fire After Tottenham Defeat Sheffield United
Sheffield United head coach Paul Heckingbottom has called the decision to send off striker Oli McBurnie “absolutely barmy”, questioning some of the refereeing decisions in his side’s 3-1 loss to Tottenham.
The Blades were leading 1-0 at half-time, but the game changed when McBurnie was sent off for a second yellow card in the 66th minute. Spurs took advantage of their extra man and scored twice in stoppage time to secure a dramatic win.
Speaking after the match, Heckingbottom said: “I’m absolutely barmy about the sending off. It was a really poor decision. It changed the game and it’s hard to take.”
Heckingbottom also questioned other refereeing decisions, including a penalty appeal that was turned down in the first half. He said: “It was a clear penalty and I’m disappointed that it wasn’t given. It would have been a different game if it had been awarded.”
The result leaves Sheffield United in 14th place in the Premier League table, while Tottenham are in sixth. The Blades will be hoping to bounce back when they face West Bromwich Albion next weekend.
For those who missed the match, highlights of Saturday’s Premier League action are available to watch on Match Of The Day on Saturday 2 September at 22:20 BST on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app. This is available to UK users only.
The result has sparked debate about refereeing decisions in the Premier League, with many fans and pundits questioning whether referees are making the right calls.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said: “It’s a difficult job for referees, but they have to get these decisions right. The game is too fast for them to make mistakes like this.”
Meanwhile, former England international Gary Lineker tweeted: “Referees have an incredibly tough job, but they have to get these decisions right. It’s not good enough.”
The Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOB), which oversees refereeing in the Premier League, has yet to comment on the incident. However, they have previously said that they are committed to improving refereeing standards and will continue to review and assess all decisions made by officials.
It remains to be seen whether any action will be taken against the referee in question, but it is clear that there is a need for better refereeing standards in the Premier League. Fans and pundits alike will be hoping that this incident serves as a wake-up call for officials and that similar mistakes are not repeated in the future.
