• Premier League

Wilshere slams referee Phil Dowd on Twitter

ESPNsoccernet staff
February 5, 2011
Abou Diaby sees red for an altercation with Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan © Getty Images
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Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere slammed referee Phil Dowd for his performance in the incredible 4-4 draw at Newcastle claiming inconsistent officiating is "killing the game''.

Dowd sent off Wilshere's midfield colleague Abou Diaby in the 48th minute after he reacted to a challenge by Joey Barton by shoving the Newcastle player to the ground.

But Wilshere believes a later incident involving Kevin Nolan and Wojciech Szczesny, in the immediate aftermath of the first of Barton's two penalties, was just as serious and should have seen the Newcastle captain receive the same punishment as Diaby.

Newcastle came from 4-0 at half time down to hold Arsenal at St James' Park.

In a post on his official Twitter page, Wilshere wrote: "Inconsistent refereing needs to stop.its killing the game.if Diaby goes..whats the difference between that and Nolan on our keeper!?? £joke''

The criticism of the officiating could leave 19-year-old Wilshere open to Football Association action.

Former Liverpool striker Ryan Babel was fined £10,000 by the FA last month when he posted a doctored photo of referee Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt, following a 1-0 defeat for Kenny Dalglish's team at Old Trafford.

Diaby also took to Twitter to say sorry after his furious reaction to Barton's challenge. He said: "am a broken man.. i am soo sorry.. lost my head.. apologize."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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