Former Premier League referee Graham Scott has opened up about some of Harry Kane’s ‘irritating’ behaviour on the pitch.
Scott was a guest on eSPORTY’s Hawksbee and Jacobs the morning after England’s painful World Cup semi-final exit to Argentina.
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As anticipated, the two great rivals gave referee Ismael Elfath plenty to keep on top of, with tensions threatening to boil over on a few occasions in Atlanta.
Argentina came from a goal down to triumph 2-1 and set up a mouthwatering World Cup final showdown with Spain on Sunday, while England head into the dreaded third place play-off against France on Saturday.
‘It just annoys you’
In the end, only one England player was booked – Elliot Anderson – but Scott expressed his disappointment about the Three Lions’ players ‘chipping away’ at the man in the middle.
“It really annoys me watching our players trying to chip away at the ref because that’s not going to work,” Scott said.
“I’ve been on the receiving end of it from these people.
“It just annoys you [as a referee]. It doesn’t get you what you want [as a player]. It doesn’t achieve what you’re hoping it will achieve.
“And, well, the Argentinians seem rather more effective at it – so what can we learn from that?
“It’s also understanding about how different referees operate. So, do we actually watch the ref? Do we analyse them before the game? Do we think, ‘Right, he’s going to let this go’?
“We [referees] can exploit that as well, potentially, but also, be ready for that onslaught because it’s coming.”
Scott explained his frustration at England players’ behaviour towards the referee and gave particular insight into what it’s like to officiate Kane – as he did during his 10 years as a Premier League official.
“He’s very repetitive,” Scott continued. “And it is the sarcastic leading question of ‘Is he going to be allowed to do that all day? Are you going to give us anything? Do you know there are two teams out here…?’. And it just irritates you.
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“[I used to think], ‘I wish you’d just go away’ and then… if anything, when the 50-50 call comes in, ‘No, you’re not getting it, because I’ve taken against you as a person now’.
“It doesn’t work, Harry, and I’d love to speak to him about it because he could be effective, sure, but what he’s trying now doesn’t work.
“And I’ve seen it in the Premier League, of course. I don’t know what he’s always like in the Bundesliga – I’ve not watched it – but it is frustrating…
‘They’re not unpleasant people’
“And it looks like [Jude] Bellingham follows a similar pattern. The only time I refereed him was when he was at Birmingham as a kid, so … he would have changed a lot since then.”
Bellingham was involved in a heated exchange with Lionel Messi on Wednesday night.
Scott did have praise for both Kane and Bellingham, though, the latter of whom has been tipped to succeed the former as England captain.
“In so many ways, they’re such great role models, don’t get me wrong” he emphasised. “And they’re not unpleasant people, but it’s about what works.
“And I do think when it comes to referees, people haven’t really thought about what works with refs to get them on your side – and all we ever do is rinse and repeat, berate, batter, shout [in the hope] eventually they’ll buckle.
“Well, if everyone’s doing it, I suppose it evens itself out.”
