'Sorry' Styles axed after Liverpool blunder

The official will not take charge of a Premier League game this weekend after his bosses ruled he made a mistake and also apologised to a furious Rafael Benitez.

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Styles said: "All referees enter into matches hoping not to make any mistakes but understanding that they may happen, what none of us want is for any mistake to potentially affect the result of the match.

"Yesterday, in mistakenly awarding a penalty, I accept that I may have affected the result of the match and for that I apologise."

The Liverpool manager branded yesterday's decision "unbelievable" and Styles will also say sorry after the spot-kick allowed Chelsea to share the points at Anfield.

Benitez's side were ahead through Fernando Torres but the referee thought Steve Finnan fouled Florent Malouda in the 62nd minute and Frank Lampard converted the penalty to give Chelsea a 1-1 draw.

The result could prove crucial in the title race and the Professional Game Match Officials board are getting tough when mistakes are made.

In addition to punishing Styles for an all-round poor performance at Anfield they have dropped assistant referee Ian Gosling after he denied David Healy's equaliser for Fulham when it clearly crossed the line in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough.

Referees' chief Keith Hackett said: "I have spoken to Rob this morning. He has looked at the video with the decision and obviously he is extremely disappointed.

"He has admitted he has got it wrong. I tried to make contact and left a message with Benitez to apologise on behalf of the PGMO for the error.

"I did in pre-season say to managers and the public in general that accountability exists and we do expect referees to get the big decisions correct.

"On this occasion it is wrong and therefore Rob will not be officiating next weekend. His initial view was that he believed an offence had taken place. Having looked at the video and seen a better angle, he recognises he got it wrong.

"He is deeply apologetic for that and he too will be making contact with Liverpool to offer his apologies."

Styles made several other mistakes and appeared to show Michael Essien a second yellow card after booking John Terry in the second half. He raised the card twice, the second time with the midfielder immediately in front of him and the defender nowhere near.

Essien thought he was off but Styles insists he was showing the card to Terry.

Hackett said: "He forgot to put the card away. It was a basic administrative error as against an error of application of law but it is something we will look closely at on the video to ensure we do not get a repeat."

Another area the authorities are studying carefully is goal-line technology and Fulham's defeat will increase their focus.

The Premier League are working on a camera-based system from HawkEye, which has systems used in different guises in cricket and tennis. It will soon be examined by FIFA.

Referring to Gosling, Hackett said: "Clearly the assistant referee has made an error and will not be operating for us next week.

"We share the view at the PGMO with the FA and Premier League in wanting goal-line technology. We have got to get the technology into a position where the International Football Association Board will give us permission to use it as an experiment.

"We are some months from that. Referees are human and errors are made. We are making moves forward but this weekend was a step back.

"I apologise to Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez and Benitez publicly. We want referees to get the major decisions right."

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll agreed that Styles had not had the best afternoon. He said: "It was a big mistake. I'd be happy to have a weekend off to lick my wounds and regain my confidence."

Poll, who booked Croatia's Josip Simunic three times during a World Cup match in 2006, also felt that the Essien yellow-card incident had looked a mess.

"At the first look I definitely thought he had booked Essien a second time," said Poll.

"Having looked I can see that as Rob raises the yellow card he points over to John Terry and says that it is John he has cautioned. He had just given a penalty and you have a gut feeling as a referee that you might have made a mistake."

Benitez had no sympathy with Styles and Steven Gerrard said: "I don't want to say too much because I will get into trouble, but the referee didn't play well.

"Whether it was because the Chelsea players were talking I don't know, but in the end he's cracked and made a bad decision. I hope he says sorry now."