"For some reason, especially in Europe, it becomes apparent that the referees have an ignorance problem.
"You can't speak to them. You try to speak to them in the best manner possible, but they turn their nose up to you and it's almost like they're from the upper crust and they're not allowed to speak to the players. I think something needs to be done about it because there's no conversation or communication between the players and the referees and it makes it difficult and very frustrating. It's not the language. This referee was German but he was speaking good English.
"I think attitudes have to change. There has to be a better environment on the pitch, and the referees have to provide that first and foremost by being talkative to the players and being able to have a conversation without him just looking at you like you're a piece of rubbish.
"Their players kicked the balls away at our free-kicks and he didn't do anything. One of the tackles on Gaby Heinze was a joke. Scholesy got his second yellow for a tackle not half as bad as that. And then he [Fandel] books Gaby for rolling the ball back. I just don't understand it. The referee wasn't the reason we lost 2-1 and we're not using it as an excuse. But it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. I don't really want to make excuses, but the referee was close to . . . well, I don't want to get myself in trouble, but I just think he didn't have a very good game at all."