Sky’s the limit as luckless Keane lashes referees’ calls

ROY KEANE has “abandoned” any notion of the luck of the Irish after seeing his struggling Sunderland side suffer due to poor refereeing.

The Black Cats’ manager stepped up his onslaught against officialdom yesterday and mocked the adage that luck evens itself out over a season.

Keane has stopped short of suggesting that his feisty reputation as a player and past confrontations with referees could be influencing their thinking.

But he insists key decisions cost Sunderland six points and is alarmed that even Sky Sports’ touchline take on incidents is having a crucial bearing.

Keane’s former Man Utd teammate, Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, warned him he would be cursing officials long before the end of the campaign.

And Keane admitted: “Sparky was dead right. Don’t fall for this nonsense that things will even themselves out. There’s no way things can even themselves out for this club this season — I’ve abandoned that at this stage.

“We’re not getting the rub of the green against every club we play — Blackburn, Villa, Derby, Reading.

“Even our team the other night in the FA Youth Cup had a goal disallowed in the last minute and it was clearly a good goal.

“I haven’t a clue why it’s happening — I’m not that paranoid yet — but it certainly worries me. I get consolation when I see Aston Villa’s penalty award against Middlesbrough the other night because, thank God, it didn’t happen to us. It happens to Middlesbrough as well, and it was the same referee, Steve Bennett, who disallowed our last-minute goal here against Villa!.

“The decisions against us have been absolutely amazing.

“Nobody was even appealing for a foul in our game against Villa, and then there was the game at Reading (replays showed Steve Hunt’s goal had not crossed the line). You’re always told that if you’re not sure, you give the benefit of the doubt. But the linesman gives a goal and he was 50 yards away. We’ve watched it again hundreds of times and it wasn’t over the line. Michael Chopra’s goal was disallowed at Derby, and he was onside.

“After the Derby game, the assessor rang me on the Tuesday because we knew the goal was fine. He said, ‘We’ve seen it again and you’re right, it was a goal.’ I’m told that on a Tuesday morning. Great — get the champagne out!

“After the game I went to see the referee (Mike Riley) and said, ‘Listen, the goal was onside,’ and he said, ‘Smartie’s told me at half-time I got the call right.’ I said, ‘Excuse me, who’s Smarties?’ He said, ‘John Smart from Sky.’ I said, ‘So he’s dictating your decisions?’

“Then I said, ‘Should you be speaking to him at half-time?’ He said, ‘He’s a good friend of mine.’ That’s what you’re dealing with.

“The assistant referee, who gave it offside, said a Derby official at half-time told him he got it right. He said, ‘Why would he lie to me?’ I said, ‘Maybe so you mightn’t go out in the second half and think you need to even things up.’

“Believe it or not, I think I’m a fair man, but these are decisions that are costing this club vital points. It’s probably cost us six.

“Gareth Southgate at Middlesbrough is contacting the referees’ boss Keith Hackett about their game the other night — I might ring him myself, get his number off Gareth. I’m very tempted, but what would happen? It would just been seen as sour grapes. All we’re asking for is fairness.”

Chelsea visit Sunderland today, having recovered from the shock of their FA Cup humbling at Barnsley a week ago to demolish Premier League whipping boys Derby 6-1 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Frank Lampard hit four goals yet the midfielder admitted he is losing patience over his contract impasse, but Keane added: “These contract situations can drag on, trust me. He’s got another year left after this. Maybe I’ll make him a call — he might come here for £20,000 a week!”

Meanwhile, Keane has again included transfer-listed Republic of Ireland midfielder Liam Miller in his squad.

The Cork man was transfer listed after being repeatedly late for training, but Keane said: “Liam played in the reserves the other night and trained with us yesterday. He’s training with a squad of 20, and if he does well in the five-a-sides, he might have a chance. There’s been nothing major as regards interest in him.”

Ireland striker Anthony Stokes is ruled out today after being hit by a virus this week.