Top flight referees still under heavy scrutiny.
Renowned referee Phil Dowd has admitted that he made a mistake by awarding Manchester United a penalty against Preston North End in the FA Cup earlier this month after replays showed that there was no contact when Wayne Rooney fell in the area, the Daily Mail reports.
SEE MORE:
Ten Most Wanted Transfer Targets Of 2015, Including Liverpool Starlet, Former Man United Youngster And Marco Reus
Manchester United Make £18m Bid For Bundesliga Star & Real Madrid Target
Manchester United transfer news
Dowd admitted privately that he got the decision wrong, though at the time he gave the spot kick without hesitation.
A colleague of his said: “Phil said that he was adamant at the time that he had got the decision right.
“But he is a very honest bloke and, like all referees, he looks back on his games on TV.
“With this one, he has realised that he probably shouldn’t have awarded a penalty. It was a mistake.”
Rooney has received heavy criticism for taking the tumble, with the likes of Stan Collymore labelling him as a cheat.
COMMENTS