Monk risks punishment with rant about Moses dive
Swansea boss Garry Monk could find himself in trouble with the Football Association after launching an angry tirade against Victor Moses and referee Michael Oliver following yesterday’s 2-1 loss at Stoke.
Monk was left fuming at the Potters’ equaliser in the Barclays Premier League contest, which came in the 43rd minute after Moses, the winger on loan from Chelsea, went to ground in the visitors’ box under the attentions of Angel Rangel.
It appeared Moses had gone down somewhat easily but Oliver awarded a penalty which Charlie Adam tucked away.
After the game, Monk branded Oliver’s decision “disgraceful” and “disgusting”, and also said: “He (Moses) should be punished for diving, it’s a clear dive.
“He’s cheated the ref and then the ref’s cheated us in terms of giving a decision that never was.”
He added: ”It is one of the most blatant dives you will ever see.
”He should be ashamed of himself for diving like that. But that is what some players want to do, so I have to live with that – an extremely poor decision, once again.
”He is supposed to be a professional referee at the highest level – you wouldn’t expect that from a professional.“
Monk – who said he ”wouldn’t be able to go home to my family and show my face to them” if he had done what Moses did, and stressed that any of his players who dived would be fined and dropped – also had strong words for referees’ chief Mike Riley, accusing him of “poor leadership”.
Monk believes his side have been victims of a number of incorrect decisions by officials, and said: ”I have sent a DVD off with a letter, expressing my disappointment, and I’ve had no contact from Mike Riley.
”I think it is about being pro-active and he is clearly not doing that.“
Stoke manager Mark Hughes hit back at Monk for his comments on Moses, saying: ”I heard him say my player was a cheat which is unacceptable in my view.”
Hughes insisted Moses did not dive and also defended Potters captain Ryan Shawcross.
The away side took the lead in the 34th minute when Shawcross and Wilfried Bony tussled at a corner, the latter went down and Oliver awarded a spot-kick which the Swansea striker converted himself.
Monk was adamant that was a “clear” penalty, but Hughes felt Bony hit the turf ”quite easily”, and said: ”I think people are trying to highlight Ryan over most Premier League defenders in terms of holding people in the box, which is pure nonsense.
“That might have been highlighted to the referee – maybe that was why he felt the need to give that decision.”
Stoke secured the three points through a 76th-minute header from substitute Jonathan Walters.
