Rotherham United hoping for help from a friend in high places when it comes to referees

BOSS Matt Taylor is banking on referee leader Howard Webb’s love of Rotherham United leading to the club getting a fairer deal from officials.

The latest injustice saw a goal wrongly disallowed to deprive the Millers of an early lead in last Saturday’s Championship home clash with Coventry City.

Webb (right), a lifelong Rotherham supporter who took charge of the 2010 World Cup Final, has just become chief of the refereeing body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited.

PGMOL are responsible for refs in the Premier League and EFL and were formed to improve standards.

“I hope it helps he is a Rotherham fan because we certainly feel we are on the wrong end of some decisions,” Taylor said.

“He was at our game with Sheffield United a few weeks ago so I was able to introduce myself and meet him for the first time.

“He has got a big job on his hands. He has to sort out the referees’ group and the provision they provide and I think he is the man to do that.”

The Millers have contacted PGMOL over Keith Stroud’s ruling that a foul had been committed in the build-up to the fourth-minute Jordan Hugill header that should have given them a fourth-minute advantage over the Sky Blues.

“We have requested a bit of dialogue,” Taylor said. “That is all we can do. I am not sure we will like the dialogue.”

The last time Rotherham made an approach to PGMOL was in November after their appeals for a spot-kick at Sheffield United were rejected after Ben Wiles had tumbled in the area just before half-time.

Stroud was the referee on that occasion too.

“They said the decision not to award a penalty for the foul at Bramall Lane was the right one,” Taylor said. “Sometimes you get the information through and you can’t quite believe what you are reading.”