Ref Mason should be dropped, hints Rafa

RAFAEL BENITEZ has hinted referee Lee Mason should be dropped, just like any under-performing player would be, following his controversial and below-par display in Saturday’s match between Stoke and Liverpool.

Mason, who has already infuriated Liverpool with poor decisions in matches against Portsmouth and Fulham, was alarmingly bad at the Britannia Stadium, missing two clear penalties and making a string of bizarre calls.

He booked Liverpool midfielder Lucas for a dive when he was clearly brought down by Danny Higginbotham and then ignored further appeals for a penalty when the same player had his shirt pulled in injury time.