Wenger - Refs are good, but they need help

It is not that the referees are not good enough, they just need more help. That's the view of Arsène Wenger.

Talking at a time when questionable decisions have cost the Gunners dearly, the Frenchman stopped well short of criticising the men whose decisions have perhaps not favoured Arsenal.

In fact, Wenger claimed there is little room for refereeing improvement, other than in the assistance they are offered.

“What I feel needs to be talked about,” he explained, “is how you can get referees into positions to make less mistakes. I feel that football authorities have a great responsibility in that.

“I don’t think the quality is not there. I think it is there. The referees are quite good but the game is so quick and the situation for them is so difficult that without assistance they cannot humanly improve a lot.

“I feel it is unfair to say the referees are not good enough. It is that they are in a situation where they cannot do much better.

“There is not enough room there [to improve]. I think they are close to being as good as they can be. I wouldn’t accuse the referees of not being good, they just need more assistance.”

So is Wenger an advocate of introducing technology to the game?

“Television replays and video would help, for when the referee needs help and when they demand assistance.”

Another referee with a television screen then, like in rugby league? “Yes, exactly.”