SOCCER/English Premier League News:Rob Styles will not referee in the Premier League this weekend and it could be up to a month before the official takes charge of a top-flight fixture again after he was sanctioned following his performance at Anfield on Sunday.
Styles, who has apologised to Liverpool for awarding Chelsea a penalty when he ruled that Steve Finnan had fouled Florent Malouda, will be expected to complete a "run of low-key games" in the Football League before returning to the Premier League.
"Referees are aware of the accountability that exists, as are the managers and players, and we expect referees to get big decisions correct," said Keith Hackett, the head of Professional Game Match Officials. "I think the position is (Styles) is not going to be used next week and he can have a run of low-key games where he can get his form back and it can repair the guy for the Premiership."
Hackett has also dropped Ian Gosling after the assistant referee failed to award Fulham a late goal against Middlesbrough on Saturday when David Healy's shot crossed the line.
Hackett will today meet Styles and the fourth official at Anfield, Phil Dowd, to discuss a second controversial incident, involving Michael Essien. The Chelsea midfielder appeared to be awarded two yellow cards only for Styles to claim the second was intended for John Terry. "I have been informed that Styles was adamant he issued the yellow card to John Terry," added Hackett.
"I can tell you that John Smart, from Sky television, said to the fourth official, 'The guys upstairs are saying that he's cautioned Essien twice.' At that point Phil Dowd went back to Rob Styles and said, 'Will you please confirm to me the player you have cautioned?' He quite clearly stated it was John Terry. Dowd asked the question again. They are adamant John Terry was cautioned."
Styles did not comment on that incident but admitted the decision to award the penalty was wrong.
"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," he said. "(On Sunday) in mistakenly awarding a penalty, I accept that I may have affected the result of the match and for that I apologise."
Meanwhile, Gabriel Heinze's attempt to get a move to Liverpool will not be resolved until today at the earliest. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was at a hearing in London to hear Heinze's lawyers argue the Argentina defender had received written confirmation he could leave Old Trafford for any club that bid €10 million. United say the agreement excluded their main Premier League rivals.
