• Premier League

Stoke chairman fined after referees 'bias' comment

ESPN staff
December 4, 2014
Peter Coates, left, claimed that Stoke are treated more harshly by referees © Getty Images
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Stoke chairman Peter Coates has been fined £5,000 by the Football Association after accused referees of being biased against his team.

Coates was charged by the FA on November 20 for his comments and was handed the fine on December 4 following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

An FA statement read: "The Stoke City chairman was charged with improper conduct in that his comments alleged and/or implied bias on the part of referees and/or brought the game into disrepute.

"Mr Coates denied the charge and requested a personal hearing at which the breach of FA Rule E3(1) was found proven. He was also warned as to his future conduct and ordered to pay £1,500 towards the cost of the hearing."

Sky Sports reports Coates as saying on November 4: "We feel we don't always get fair treatment and that is all we are asking for.

"There does seem to be a bias towards other teams. You always feel that because we have a good crowd that gets behind the team, referees seem to think, 'I will show them who's in charge here.' Perhaps it's a macho thing.

"You do get a bit fed up getting fouls against us and decisions having an effect on games, such as a two-footed challenge that doesn't even get a booking or a foul. I do feel that we get treated more harshly than the opposition."

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