Jermaine Jenas has apologised to referee Rob Jones (Photo: Getty)
Jermaine Jenas has issued an apology after calling the referee for Tottenham’s draw at Arsenal a ‘complete s***house’.
Sunday’s North London Derby at the Emirates was a thrilling 2-2 draw, though there was some controversy over Arsenal’s second goal.
VAR adjudged Cristian Romero to have blocked Ben White’s goal-bound shot with his arm, with referee Rob Jones awarding a penalty as a result, which Bukayo Saka subsequently scored.
Many felt the decision to be very harsh given how close Romero was to White when it happened, but Jenas took his frustration too far in a post on Twitter.
‘Complete sh**house off a referee! They’re all ruining the our game!’ the former Tottenham and England midfielder wrote.
He later responded to a fan who suggested he was only upset because the decision went against his former side, saying: ‘I wouldn’t at all and it’ll happen to arsenal at some point this year! If it takes that long after watching it over and over.. then it’s not a pen.’
Many have criticised the 40-year-old’s words, especially amid the growing push to eradicate abuse of match officials both on and off the pitch.
Jenas, a regular pundit on Match of the Day and a co-host of The One Show, himself was the face of the Football Association’s ‘Love Football, Protect the Game’ campaign just before the beginning of the season.
In their launch video, he said: ‘No more surrounding refs, no more abuse, no more intimidation, no more discrimination.’
Charity Ref Support UK said of Jenas’ post: ‘This is a disgraceful tweet and you should be ashamed. Your tweet encourages online abuse of referees and considering your role on TV your employers need to give their head a wobble.’
Jenas has now apologised for his remarks, writing on Twitter: ‘I hold my hands up, I got it wrong yesterday.
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‘I should know, more than most, the responsibility we have as fans, players and pundits and the impact our words online can have as it’s an area I’ve been vocal in.
‘My emotions got the better of me and I apologise to The FA and to all match officials.’
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