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Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael has publicly blasted referee Anthony Backhouse’s conduct following his side’s defeat at Charlton, specifically calling the official’s reaction to a penalty appeal ‘unacceptable.’ The controversy arose when Blackburn captain Todd Cantwell’s cross clearly struck the arm of Charlton player Lloyd Jones inside the box.
Despite immediate shouts for a spot-kick from Cantwell and his teammates, Mr.
Backhouse turned down the appeal.
Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire that while his side’s performance was not consistently good, conceding a goal from a set piece in the first half, the penalty incident was the defining moment.
He stated, ‘Then came the moment we were looking at, and I think it’s terrible the referee didn’t see that handball by Jones because it can be a game-changer.’ However, it was the referee’s personal reaction, not just the decision, that angered the manager most, with Ismael calling it ‘unacceptable.’ Ismael's frustration with the officiating extended beyond the penalty call, as he also criticised the referee for failing to address the opposition’s tactic of kicking the ball away during quick free-kicks.
The manager expressed a desire for consistency, stating, ‘All I want is consistency across the board to give us a chance.’ Ismael faces the task of improving his team’s inconsistency, but his primary frustration is now clearly aimed at the match officials, believing his team was denied a potential game-changing moment.