Bournemouth ace slams ref after ‘sarky comments’ about Cherries’ relegation at Sheffield
Bournemouth’s Dan Gosling has called on Premier League official Jon Moss to apologise to his club for making ‘disrespectful comments’ during their defeat by Sheffield United.
Midfielder Gosling has accused Moss, 49, of belittling the Cherries by speaking to the players about their relegation battle during their match on Sunday.
Reports suggest Bournemouth are in talks with the Premier League over the conduct of Moss after hearing of their players’ complaints.
Gosling, speaking to the Daily Echo, said: ‘The ref didn’t help. Giving soft fouls away and little comments to two or three of the lads didn’t help as well really.
‘I thought it was very disrespectful what he was saying. It was just the little niggly ones and then the little sarky comments.
‘The officials talk about respect at the start of the season and there was zero respect from Jon Moss on Sunday.
‘I thought he was a disgrace. The comments that he made especially to me and one other player – talking about the relegation zone and “you’re still in the relegation zone”, “you’re having one”, “your team’s having one” this and that and it was very, very disrespectful.’
Gosling added, talking about when Moss made the comments: ‘During the game, yeah. I think he should really come out and apologise because I thought he was a disgrace.’
Moss, who became a Premier League official in 2011 after first refereeing in the Football League in 2005, was taking charge of his first Bournemouth game of the season on Sunday.
The Sunderland-born official, who is now based in West Yorkshire, has refereed 22 games this season.
His alleged comments about Bournemouth being in the relegation zone were in fact wrong. Bournemouth are two points above the relegation zone with Norwich, Watford and West Ham currently in the bottom three.
Moss gave out five yellow cards to players on Sunday with Sheffield United’s Enda Stevens and Lys Mousset cautioned along with Bournemouth’s Simon Francis, Andrew Surman and Callum Wilson.
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Blades boss Chris Wilder was also shown a yellow card by Moss for scrapping with Surman on the touchline.
Sheffield United came from behind to win the Bramall Lane clash with Billy Sharp cancelling out Wilson’s opener.
John Lundstram scored Sheffield United’s winner with six minutes remaining to pile more misery on the Cherries.
The Football Association have been contacted for comment.