Sandwich-gate: Sheff Utd boss Wilder in FA pickle over ref rant

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has been accused of inappropriate conduct by the Football Association over a rant against match officials, including calling them disrespectful for eating a sandwich in front of him.

Wilder was unhappy with decisions made during his side's 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace last month and described referee Tony Harrington's performance as ridiculous.

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Speaking to the media, he also suggested that those in charge were more likely to make decisions against the Yorkshire club.

The FA said Wilder had been charged with a breach of rule E3.1 in relation to his post-match comments.

“It is alleged that the manager's comments constitute inappropriate conduct in that they imply bias/or attack the integrity of the referee, or referees in general,” the FA said in a statement on Wednesday.

Wilder's anger was sparked after his goalkeeper Ivo Grbic was forced to retire with concussion after a collision with Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta who did not receive a yellow card.

“This is yet another ridiculous performance from the referee. A Premier League referee, as honest as the day is long, told me: 'Get ready, because every close call will go against you, every 50-50 will go against you.' '” Wilder said in his post-match press conference.

“Their boy takes our goalkeeper out, we had to change goalkeeper. It has no chance if it's an accident or not, it's a yellow card. Every close decision goes against us.

“I don't look back at the last 10 games, it's over a longer period of time, before I came here too. Maybe the thought process is: 'They won't stay in this division for long and I I could referee the other team next year, so I don't want to upset too many people.

Wilder also said that when he went to confront the officials after the match, an assistant referee was eating a sandwich.

“But I'm not just going to go unnoticed and say nothing. I went to the referee and told him,” Wilder said at the time. “One of his assistants was eating a sandwich, which I found to be a complete lack of respect.

“I hope he enjoyed his sandwich while he was talking to a Premier League manager.”

Wilder has until February 16 to respond to the charge.