Referees influenced by big clubs, says Al Fayed

Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed has launched a scathing attack on the bodies in control of English football, demanding a review of both refereeing practices and the decision-making process.

The Egyptian businessman has written to the Football Association and Premier League seeking an immediate review, which he says is on behalf of all clubs. Al Fayed has spoken out after Fulham recently suffered a 1-0 loss at Manchester United, where Danny Murphy was bundled over a minute from time, but referee Michael Oliver waved away the penalty claims.

In a statement on the club’s official website, www.fulhamfc.co.uk, Al Fayed said: “The losses that we incur from such careless decisions have a huge impact and can have calamitous consequences. Referees are all too easily influenced by the more powerful clubs and individual owners and calls into question the integrity of both them, and the governing body that they report to.”