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.

But it wasn’t only Liverpool who were complaining. Stoke were furious with the free-kick that led to Liverpool’s opening goal and both sets of players were bemused by some of his decisions.

Benitez said: “We should have had two penalties that could have changed everything. The first penalty Lucas went down early but it was a foul and a penalty anyway and the second one was a clear penalty.

“They have people in charge of referees who analyse these things and they know. We have to try to be positive after this game, it is important we stay positive, but we have to be disappointed with the decisions. They were not the best.”

When asked if he spoke to Mason after the match Benitez added: “No, not too much, not here. I don’t think you can change too many things even if you do say anything.

“The question is, they have people who are in charge and they have to decide when they have seen the performance of the referee on the pitch and then decide. It’s like me dealing with a player. If a player makes a mistake then you put the player on the bench.”

Benitez proved his point by leaving out winger Ryan Babel, who used his Twitter page in the build-up to the match to complain about being constantly dropped. And it seems the Dutch star may well remain persona non grata for Wednesday’s home match against Tottenham.

Benitez said tersely: “We have to concentrate on the next game with the players we have available. If Ryan trains hard and is ready to play he will be available. If not, he won’t be available.

“I was talking with Ryan one week ago and I explained the situation very clearly to him. After the meeting everything was fine. He was working and he was on the bench and he played against Reading. After this game I decided he would not be on the bench and that is it.”