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Gillingham manager Justin Edinburgh says referees and managers need to improve their lines of communication

Referee Simon Hooper and his fellow officials meet the captains before kick-off at Huish Park last week Picture: Barry Goodwin
Referee Simon Hooper and his fellow officials meet the captains before kick-off at Huish Park last week Picture: Barry Goodwin

Gillingham boss Justin Edinburgh has called for more communication between managers and officials.

Edinburgh was incensed by a late decision against Gavin Hoyte last Saturday that cost his team victory in the 2-2 draw with Yeovil.

But despite passing his number to matchday referee Simon Hooper, the official – as of Tuesday – hadn’t called back.

“He said he would give me a call,” said Edinburgh, who questioned the stoppage-time penalty that led to Yeovil’s equaliser.

“I don’t feel there is enough communication and relationships between ourselves and the referees. I am not saying you should go out for a beer with them, or dinner, but they could learn from us and we could learn from them.

“The fact that I haven’t heard from him might tell the tale of what he thought of the incident. I would have more respect for him if he rung me and said he got it wrong. If he still argues his case, at least he has said to me the reasons why.

“The referee’s line of view was quite clearly occupied and was obstructed by a Yeovil player, which proves to me that it was a complete guess. You see quite clearly in his hand actions that he waves it away, but then one of their players puts his hands up and appeals. He then puts the whistle to his mouth.

“He has gone off a reaction of a Yeovil player. No ref can go off a reaction of a player – he has to make his own decision."

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