Best league in world ,but probably worst officials – Warnock

Neil Warnock described Premier League officials as the “worst in the world” after his Cardiff City side’s controversial loss to Chelsea.

Cesar Azpilicueta was clearly offside when he headed in Chelsea’s 84th-minute equaliser in their dramatic 2-1 win.

“I am deflated because we have worked hard for this game and felt we could win it.
“Against the big teams, you have to have VAR because you don’t get the big decisions. The equalising goal is the winning goal really, and if you can’t see across the line and see offside I don’t know why we are in the game.”

Cardiff seemed to be on course for their most notable victory of the season until Chelsea – who had been distinctly unimpressive – equalised through Azpilicueta.

Marcos Alonso flicked on a cross and, although his fellow Spaniard was at least a yard offside, assistant referee Eddie Smart kept his flag down and the goal stood.

Warnock was also unhappy that Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger was not sent off after bringing down Kenneth Zohore as the Cardiff striker bore down on goal. Instead, referee Craig Pawson showed the German defender a yellow card.

Pawson had earlier rejected two penalty appeals from Cardiff, whose captain Sean Morrison had his shirt pulled by opposition defenders either side of half-time.
Warnock was visibly furious with those calls, though he was most angry with Smart’s decision not to raise his flag for Azpilicueta’s equaliser.

The 70-year-old Cardiff manager walked on to the pitch after the final whistle and approached the officials but said nothing, merely staring at them as they left the field.
“At that stage people might be happy to see you say something and get fined but what can you say? I wanted to get my lads away because I didn’t want to get anyone punished,” Warnock explained.

“I am not just talking about the players, I mean everyone involved with the clubs that are in precarious positions, it can affect all levels of the club.