Bumbling referee Andre Marriner dropped from Week 16 Premier League Matches

After his nightmare performance in last weekend’s 1-0 victory by Manchester City over Everton, referee Andre Marriner has been dropped from this weekend’s Premier League referee appointments.
Marriner will instead referee Saturday’s League One contest between Sheffield United and Fleetwood.
Among other errors, The 43-year-old match official from Sheldon, West Midlands, awarded City there controversial game-winning 24th-minute penalty kick.
Marriner ruled that City’s James Milner was fouled in the penalty area by Everton defender Phil Jagielka, but replays showed the contact was minimal.
 The decision was criticized by Everton manager Roberto Martinez after the match.

“I’m really disappointed about it [the decision]…James Milner’s reaction tells you everything. He just gets up and tries to fight for the ball. He is not even asking for a free-kick…It was a disappointing decision from such an experienced referee.” ~ Everton manager Roberto Martinez

BPL followers will also recall that Marriner was in PK hot water again last November when he awarded Chelsea midfielder a soft penalty in a match against West Brom. 
Martinez was equally upset with several of Marriner’s other errors including Fernando for his wild, karate-style kick to the midsection of Everton’s Samuel Eto’o and also a high challenge by Eliaquim Mangala on Gareth Barry.
The performance by Marriner drew a storm of criticism and goes down as one of the worst referee performances of the season to date.
It isn’t the first time Marriner was dropped from the BPL lineup. He was demoted the match officials card last spring after sending off the wrong Arsenal player (Kieran Gibbs instead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain).
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel joined a chorus of critics calling for his demotion last spring.
“He got a simple task so wrong, I’ve looked at it so many times and I don’t know how he can get this wrong,” said BBC panelist Schmeichel. “I think referees need to live up to certain basic standards and if they don’t they should be banned.”
Marriner has been gaining votes in our poll for worst referee. Readers are encouraged to vote in the poll below.

Who is the worst referee in the English Premier League?

  • Paul Tierney (0%, 3 Votes)
  • Craig Pawson (1%, 8 Votes)
  • Roger East (1%, 8 Votes)
  • Robert Madley (1%, 10 Votes)
  • Lee Probert (2%, 15 Votes)
  • Jon Moss (2%, 22 Votes)
  • Chris Foy (3%, 27 Votes)
  • Lee Mason (3%, 28 Votes)
  • Neil Swarbrick (3%, 30 Votes)
  • Andre Marriner (3%, 30 Votes)
  • Mike Dean (3%, 31 Votes)
  • Phil Dowd (4%, 39 Votes)
  • Michael Oliver (4%, 41 Votes)
  • Mark Clattenburg (5%, 45 Votes)
  • Mike Jones (6%, 54 Votes)
  • Anthony Taylor (6%, 56 Votes)
  • Martin Atkinson (17%, 162 Votes)
  • Kevin Friend (34%, 318 Votes)

Total Voters: 927

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