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Referee Riley removed from Premier League duty this weekend after failing to send off Ashley Cole at Spurs
Last updated at 09:11am on 28.03.08Referee Mike Riley will not be in charge of a Barclays Premier League fixture this weekend.
The West Yorkshire official appears to have paid the price for the controversial part he played in Chelsea's fiery 4-4 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
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Yellow peril: Riley books Cole but it should have been red at White Hart Lane
Riley came under heavy fire for failing to send off Chelsea's Ashley Cole against Spurs and for not reporting Cole and team-mates for harassing him following the left back's horror tackle on Spurs defender Alan Hutton.
Instead of being on top-flight duty, the referee has been handed the Coca-Cola Championship fixture between Charlton and Wolves on Saturday and Nottingham Forest's visit to Carlisle - in League One - three days later.
However, a Premier League spokesman said that Riley was appointed to the postponed Carlisle-Forest fixture three weeks ago and that his appointment still stands for the re-arranged match.
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Mob rule: referee Riley is surrounded by Chelsea players at White Hart Lane
Refs chief Keith Hackett will doubtless claim those fixtures to be big matches but there's no escaping the fact that Riley is being punished.
His demotion seems to be a sign of the Premier League's dissatisfaction of Riley and he looks likely to be kept away from key games for the rest of the season.
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Flashpoint: Ashley Cole clatters into Alan Hutton to spark the controversy
The 4-4 thriller was Riley's first game back after being dropped from the Premier League list the weekend before following a poor performance in the Blackburn v Fulham game on March 8.
No respect: Chelsea full back Ashley Cole turns his back on Mike Riley at Tottenham
Reader views (5)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
"Cashley" Cole should be banned for at least 3 games. He created controversy at Arsenal with his illegal conversations with Chelsea, and now this disruption with Riley that overshadowed what was a fantastic match. Players should be reprimanded, despite of their salary.
- Shreeraj Shah, Chicago, U.S.A.
Ashley Cole deserves a 6 game ban, 3 for the tackle and 3 for the contempt and arrogance he showed to that clown Riley.
- John Mckee, London
Yes Riley got it wrong and he is paying for it.
The laws of the game need to be changed, Referee's have no respect from players, and the way they are mobbed by players,(Shown above) is out of order, only the captain should approach the Referee as in Rugby. Arrogant players like Cole should be kicked out of football for good.
His bad behaviour is not acceptable, and sends out the wrong message, and he should not have been aloud to play for England.
Football requires a massive overhaul or it will go down the pan.
- Malc, London, England
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