Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler has criticised Michael Oliver for an “unbelievable decision” in allowing the game to continue against Crystal Palace after the referee got in the way of Carlos Baleba.
Oliver blocked the path of Baleba as he tried to reach the ball in midfield. It led to Eberechi Eze launching a Palace attack which ended with on-loan Chelsea defender Trevor Chalobah giving the visitors a 27th minute lead from the second of successive corners on their way to a 3-1 victory at the Amex Stadium.
Hurzeler said: “When the referee says after the game it’s his mistake, I don’t understand why he doesn’t stop the game. So, that’s an unbelievable decision, that something like that happens here. I asked him and he said it’s my mistake.
“In the end you can say that one corner happened and then the second corner. I think we wouldn’t have pressure, we would win the ball if he didn’t stand there, so it had an impact on the game. To interrupt the game I really don’t understand and there is not explanation for that.”
Law 9 of the laws of the game indicate that play should only be stopped and restarted by a referee if they make contact with the ball.
Two further goals by Ismaila Sarr earned lowly Palace their first win in the last seven meetings between the traditional rivals. A late own goal by Marc Guehi was little consolation for Hurzeler in a fourth game in succession without a victory.
Those results have dropped Brighton from second in the table after a 1-1 draw against Southampton on November 29 to ninth.
Hurzeler said: “In the end we deserved to lose and we have to analyse it, reflect on it and try to improve.”
Brighton’s next match is at West Ham United on December 21.
(Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
