Premiership: We must improve, demands ref's chief

Referees chief Philip Don is demanding an improvement in the standard of officiating and has admitted the men in black are getting decisions wrong.

Steve Bennett is facing criticism for failing to send Derby’s Fabrizio Ravanelli off for his tangle with Chelsea’s Marcel Desailly in Sunday’s FA Barclaycard Premiership clash.

Dermot Gallagher has already been dropped from controlling the Premiership for failing to dismiss Leeds striker Robbie Keane in Saturday’s match at Manchester United, while Paul Durkin has been demoted after allowing Chelsea’s Graeme Le Saux to stay on the pitch for his two-footed lunge at Leeds’ Danny Mills in the October 21 clash at Elland Road.

Don, manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, said: ‘‘I will not defend the indefensible and I’ve told the referees that on numerous occasions.

‘‘Paul Durkin had no excuses for not sending off Graeme Le Saux against Leeds and the incident with Dermot Gallagher was another example.’’

He added: ‘‘They’ve got to improve and to minimise mistakes. Eventually there will be consistency of approach and interpretation.

‘‘That was the problem last weekend. We have to improve the standard across the board and to do that there has to be some soul-searching.’’