Handshake snub referee reported to the FA, confirms Ossett Town boss Craig Elliott

Craig Elliott has reported his observations about referee David Benton’s manner during the 1-1 draw at Farsley AFC to the FA

The match official at the centre of the handshake snub row has been reported to the Football Association, Ossett Town manager Craig Elliott has confirmed.
Referee David Benton refused to shake the hand of Elliott at the conclusion of the Ossett’s controversial Evo Stik Division One 1-1 draw at Farsley ten days ago.
Ossett had six players cautioned and one sent off and an Ossett player has since described Benton’s behaviour during the 90 minutes as “abrasive, intimidating and abrupt”.
The official has also reported Elliott for alleged foul and abusive language, something that the Ossett boss vigorously denies.
Elliott told Sports Performer: “I’ve made my thoughts known to the league and the FA.
“I’ve not necessarily gone over his decisions and yellow cards, but I have gone over the manner of how he talked to the players and what happened after the game.
“I literally went up to him very calmly after the game and there are plenty of witnesses because nearly everyone was there. This is the truth, I went up to and said ‘I don’t think you have had a very good game today referee, but I’ll shake your hand’.
“He said: ‘go away’ and I tried again to shake his hand, but he refused.
“I’m a big believer in what happens on the pitch, regardless of whether you disagree during the game, you still shake hands at the end.
“I was disappointed that he did not do that and I’ve made my feelings known about that. What he said in his report will stay private, but ultimately it shouldn’t happen and it is something that I hope doesn’t happen again.
“We’ll wait and see what response it gets.”
Three local managers – Simon Houghton, Darren Hepworth and Paul Lines – have come out in support of Elliott and the Ossett manager admits the incident has lingered in his mind.
“I was angry for a few days about happened at the final whistle,” he added.
“When I thought about it, there was a lot of stuff that happened that day that wasn’t happy with and it is very easy to think after the weekend ‘oh we’ll move on’.
“I just think not shaking someone’s hand is poor. It’s never happened to me before and I’ve not known it happen before either.
“It shouldn’t happen at any level – right up to the Premier League.”