• Premier League

Rules different for certain clubs - Mancini

ESPN staff
April 20, 2012
Roberto Mancini: 'I am not frustrated. In Italy we say, "Every place is the same".' © PA Photos
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has expressed his frustration with the quality of Premier League refereeing, claiming "the rules are not the same for everyone".

Mancini would not be drawn on specific incidents, but City's title rivals Manchester United have benefited from two controversial penalty decisions - against QPR and Aston Villa, with Ashley Young at the heart of both - in the past fortnight.

And having seen United triumph in both of those matches, Mancini feels City only have a slim chance of pocketing the Premier League title - despite the Red Devils' recent defeat at Wigan.

"I am happy because [the players] believe but, for me, I [still] have the same feeling," Mancini said. "I think it is very difficult. Also after some of the situations I saw in the last three or four weeks, I think it is really difficult for us."

When asked to expand on these "situations", Mancini said: "I am not frustrated. In Italy we say, 'Every place is the same'."

Asked what that meant, he said: "The rules are not the same for everyone.'"

Mancini was then asked if he was suggesting the rules are different for City and United. He said: "I am not saying this, I don't want to say this. I said the rules, maybe sometimes, are different. When I was in Italy I always thought here there were the best referees. My idea has changed, probably.''

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