Ian Holloway: Referees favour certain clubs over others

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway (pictured above) felt Tottenham should not have been awarded their penalty at Selhurst Park

Ian Holloway feels that Tottenham should not have been awarded the penalty that led to their 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, denying Crystal Palace any points in their first Premier League match since 2005.

Robert Soldado stepped up to score a debut goal from the spot and it was enough to give Tottenham full points.

Referee Mark Clattenburg awarded the penalty after Aaron Lennon‘s cross hit Dean Moxey’s outstretched arm, but Holloway thought Tottenham’s Nacer Chadli had fouled Stephen Dobbie in the build up to the penalty.

Not only did Holloway take issue with the fact that a free kick was not awarded to his side, he also found the decision to give the spot-kick for the handball contentious.

Crystal Palace boss Holloway went on to suggest that referees favour certain teams over others.

“It’s going to be a long, hard season for me with these people [referees],” said Holloway.

“I had this with Blackpool. Certain clubs get fouls and others don’t.”

The 50-year-old said: “I’ve got to learn what a foul is because I thought Chadli deliberately body-checked Dobbie, smashed him down, and ran off with the ball.

“If the referee didn’t see that, the assistant should have. You have to ask if he’s good enough if he didn’t see that. I don’t see how he can miss it.

“A minute and a half later, we’re arguing over whether it was deliberate handball.”

“I don’t understand how it was a penalty, or how Moxey could have got out of the way of it,” added the former Leicester, QPR and Bristol Rovers boss.

“Do I think I would have got that at Tottenham? No I don’t.

“Tottenham will feel decisions like that if they play Man United.

“I just want a bit of fairness. I want a foul like anyone else would have got one. I’ve got a horrible taste in my mouth after that.”

Palace full-back Joel Ward agreed with his manager that his side should have been awarded a free kick before the penalty decision.

The 23-year-old said: “The game plan was working and we maybe could have had a free-kick in the build-up to their penalty.

“It was a great opening day. We played well and were unlucky not to make more of our chances.

“We’ve got all the ability to give this season a really good go. We’ve got a fantastic bond and can cause a few upsets.”