Swearing charge would be 'double standards': Jewell

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has claimed any Football Association charge for foul and abusive language following Sunday’s defeat by Arsenal would “smack of double standards”.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has claimed any Football Association charge for foul and abusive language following Sunday’s defeat by Arsenal would “smack of double standards”.

Jewell has already been charged with improper conduct for his actions at the Emirates Stadium – which he has vowed to deny – but next week could find himself the subject of another charge relating to comments made about referee Phil Dowd.

Jewell was incensed by Dowd’s performance at the Emirates Stadium, specifically his refusal to award Wigan a penalty when Mathieu Flamini appeared to bring down Emile Heskey in the area when the visitors were leading 1-0.

Dowd further infuriated Jewell by not letting Josip Skoko back onto the pitch after he had received treatment, meaning the Australian was still stood on the sidelines as Fitz Hall scored the own goal which set Arsenal up for a comeback win.

After the final whistle, Jewell stormed towards Dowd and vented his frustration at the referee’s handling of the game, before following his outburst up with stinging comments to the media after the final whistle, which have since been backed up by Latics owner Dave Whelan.

The FA, who made it clear they have nothing to do with the appointment of Premier League referees, are still investigating his post-match comments, and have confirmed the current charge relates purely to his personal rant at Dowd.

In a statement this week the club ’allege that a number of their players were verbally abused in an aggressive and menacing manner by Mr Dowd’.

And Jewell said: “I don’t particularly mind that (bad language), none of us are angels.

“But if he can eff and blind with them does that mean I can’t eff and blind with him? I’m not saying two wrongs make a right but if he’s reporting me for foul and abusive language, that smacks of double standards.”

Jewell also revealed referees’ chief Keith Hackett admitted to him this week that Dowd was not first choice to referee Wigan’s 2-1 defeat in north London - because of the official’s performances in some Wigan games in the past.

“I’ve had a long conversation with Keith Hackett and he said he tried to keep Phil Dowd away from us for those reasons but he was in charge of our game on Sunday because Dermot Gallagher was unavailable.”

“I’ve had numerous calls off managers and people in the game to say ’you’ve got to stand up, you’ve said nothing that is untrue’.”

Regarding Tuesday’s charge, Jewell told Channel M: “I wasn’t surprised. If I just shrug my shoulders at injustice like that it comes across as if I don’t care.

“We live in a world of free speech and democracy, apparently, that’s why we fought all those wars! And if can’t say what I think is right and just, what chance have we got? I’m not just taking it lying down.

“If he could turn the clock back, I think Phil Dowd would change his mind. I wouldn’t change my mind. I didn’t character-assassinate the referee, I didn’t say he was the worst referee in the Premiership. I did say someone else said that, but I didn’t say it.

“There’s an old saying ’actions speak louder than words’. If you look at some of this referee’s actions in the tapes that I’ve got of him officiating Wigan Athletic, you wonder why he’s ever in charge of a game again.”

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