Wakefield manager Paul Lines believes the FA should investigate referee David Benton’s refusal to shake Ossett Town boss Craig Elliott’s hand
Paul Lines believes the FA should investigate referee David Benton’s decision to refuse to shake Ossett Town manager Craig Elliott’s hand last week.
The Wakefield FC manager, who has been in hot water this season with the FA, was taken aback by what he heard had happened at the end of Ossett’s 1-1 draw at Farsley.
In October, Lines was handed a six-match stadium ban for violent behaviour towards the referee of Wakefield’s 7-0 defeat to Warrington back in September.
On Elliott’s row with referee Benton, Lines said: “Respect has to go two ways.
“Whatever is said between the two managers or the referee, whoever, just shake hands at the end.
“I was shocked by what I read. Referees are saying they should be getting respect.
“The incident where I got six games, I had lost it in the end because of what he had done to me. I lost it and I was wrong to lose it.
“Not shaking the manager’s hand is sheer provocation. Craig will have gone over to shake the referee’s hand and he’s not that sort of character to get involved in arguments with referees.
“For the referee to do that, I find it really strange.
“I think the FA should look at it. Right across the league the refereeing standards have to be better than what they are.
“I don’t think some of them are fantastic. They are some very good ones though and even when we’ve lost I’ve turned round and said ‘you have a good game today ref’.”