Kinnear To Apologise To Ref
By Tyne-Talk
November 13 2008
Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear has apologised for calling referee Martin Atkinson a "Mickey Mouse referee". It comes after the FA investigated the comments made after Newcastle's defeat to Fulham, asking Kinnear to explain himself and justify the comments or potentially face a disciplinary charge.
He is quoted in the Evening Chronicle today saying:
"I am sorry if my post-match comments at Fulham caused any offence and I will ring Martin Atkinson to tell him.
When I spoke to the media on Sunday I was deeply frustrated about losing a game I felt we were in a strong position to win.
I said at the time I had no complaints about the foul by Fabricio Coloccini on Andy Johnson which brought Fulham their match-winning penalty.
But I have watched the build-up to that goal, and I felt we should have been awarded a free-kick seconds earlier for a foul by Andy Johnson on Claudio Cacapa.
However, having said this, I have accepted that some of my comments on Sunday were inappropriate and I will be calling Martin Atkinson to say that."
Kinnear: "Hello, is that Martin Fu<king Atkinson?"
Atkinson: "Yes"
Kinnear: "Hello mate, its fu<king Joe Kinnear here, just fu<king calling to say how fu<king sorry I am for my fu<king comments after the bast@rd game, I didnt mean them I was just fu<king mad at losing the fu<king game and I had to fu<king lash out at some fu<ker - sorry mate"
Yeah, that sounds about right.