Chris Wilder questions referee appointment as Sheffield United prepare formal complaint

Chris Wilder remains angry over Oliver Langford’s appointment for Sheffield United’s defeat at Portsmouth, with the Blades preparing a formal complaint to the EFL and Pro Ref after a series of controversial incidents involving the referee.

Sheffield United are preparing a formal letter to both the EFL and the game’s refereeing body, which will include question marks over the appointment of the referee who sent off Hamza Choudhury during Wednesday night’s defeat at Portsmouth. The defender’s red card was a big turning point in United’s 3-2 defeat at Fratton Park.

Blades boss Chris Wilder was unhappy about referee Oliver Langford’s decision to show Choudhury the second yellow card, not long before half time. His frustration was compounded later on when United were denied a possible late penalty and Ebou Adams was unpunished for catching Mark McGuinness with a high foot, before scoring the winner.

Langford has history with United. He sent off two players before half-time at Charlton last season and going back even further, didn’t even give a foul when Paul Coutts had his leg broken by a horror tackle at Burton Albion.

Wilder believes the appointment was difficult to understand given the number of previous controversial incidents involving United, and the small number of midweek games meaning there should have been a bigger pool of other - and better - referees to choose from.

And the Blades are now compiling a letter to the relevant authorities outlining their concerns, ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Bristol City. “There are four domestic fixtures last night and we get a controversial referee that has been involved in the incidents that I’ve said over a number of years,” Wilder said.

“I just don’t get the appointment. We're off an international break and I’m sure some Premier League referees would want to get back up to speed after having three weeks off.

“And then the point that I made [about a lack of up-and-coming referees to improve the standard.] “If an up-and-coming young referee is managing that fixture last night, I would get that he potentially could make mistakes as he's coming through. I'd rather have that, those referees that are doing that and maybe making their mistakes and then going on to have a referee in the Championship or a referee in the Premier League.

“I'm sticking to what I said. Where are the young referees coming through? Like I said four domestic fixtures and we get a controversial referee that's played a part in quite a few incidents now.

“I spoke to our chief executive this morning and we’re compiling a letter that’s going into the EFL and to Pro Ref regarding our thoughts on all the things I’ve just said.

“And we’ll see what the reaction is from the relevant authorities that will deal with it.”