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FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE DISMISS REPLAY CLAIMS

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Steve Bennett

Thursday January 1,2009

The Premier League have dismissed any suggestion television replays could have influenced referee Steve Bennett's decision to overturn a penalty decision at Hull this week.

Steve Bennett pointed to the spot in injury time for an apparent handball by Aston Villa's Ashley Young but changed his mind following protests by Villa and consultation with his assistant Andy Halliday, as the pair correctly agreed the ball had struck the crossbar and not Young's raised arm.

There have since been claims a third party could have used video replays and then advised the officials of the correct decision via their earpieces but a Premier League spokesman said: "(Referees chief) Keith Hackett has spoken to Steve Bennett and the other match officials and what is absolutely clear is the decision was made between the assistant referee and the referee."

Additionally, the Premier League have also pointed out that video screens have now been removed from technical areas as part of the 'Get on with the Game' initiative and replays cannot be seen.

Hull chairman Paul Duffen has called for the matter to be investigated.

Duffen has no qualms over Bennett's final decision but has raised questions about the way at which it was reached.

"All we are saying is that the events bring into question who exactly did influence the referee," Duffen said in the Daily Mail.

"I would like a report from the match officials and confirmation of who was talking in the earpiece. There is a concern that somebody (else) was using video evidence.

"We are most concerned about the integrity of the competition and that some form of video evidence isn't being introduced by officials on a discretionary basis."


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