Sunderland boss brands referee 'incompetent' after crucial mistake

Tony Mowbray was in no mood to beat around the bush when he was asked about the latest refereeing mistake that cost Sunderland.

Tony Mowbray did not hold back his words after Sunderland lost to Sheffield United, as he flat-out called referee Matthew Donohue ‘incompetent.’

Sunderland lost 2-1 at the Stadium of Light, but Tommy Doyle’s winning goal was indisputably offside. His free kick went straight in, but three Sheff Utd players were offside and one of them, Sander Berge, attempted to get a touch in the six-yard box.

That drastically influenced the positioning and movement of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who could have dealt with it easily had it not been for the player in an offside position interfering with play.

It was one of those offsides that was so indisputable that even the opposition manager Paul Heckingbottom agreed, and even the officials themselves acknowledged the mistake.

That, though, is of so consolation to Sunderland or Tony Mowbray.

"It would be great if the referee or linesman could come in here and tell you why he allowed that goal to stand," Mowbray said. "I am sure you have all seen it.

"There were three men offside and one actually goes to try and poke the ball in, which means our goalkeeper stands because he gets a touch he has to stand. He (the attacker) misses it but it bounces in.

"One of my coaching staff has just come out of the office and the referee has apologised and said he got it wrong, which doesn't mean very much to us at the moment. I genuinely sit here and say if you know anything about football it's offside. It's not even in doubt. He's interfering with play, which has made our goalkeeper stand still.

"IT'S GONE ALL THE WAY IN!" 🤯

Sheffield United complete the turnaround, but should the goal have stood? 🤏😬 pic.twitter.com/3i6mjrTIwv

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 15, 2023

"Between the two of them, I think the linesman and the referee got it badly wrong and, ultimately, cost us points.

"I have been in football since I left school 43 years ago and that is offside. Is that right that an offside goal is allowed because the referee is incompetent and the linesman's communication is really poor.

"It shouldn't happen, yet some guy in a blue suit allowed a goal to stand which should not have stood and we have to suffer the consequences of it.

"Goals are what football is all about and you have to get those right. The incompetence of it is why you have VAR around the world and so they don't feel they need to make decisions and some guy can watch a replay as I have done and says 'that's offside'.

"If there had been VAR I don't think there would have been one per cent that would have said that's not an offside goal."

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