Penalty Decision A Disgrace - RJ

Last updated : 26 April 2010 By Brian Cartlidge

The Blues' centre-back was, as tv replays have shown, wrongly adjudged to have fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor in the penalty box 83 minutes into Sunday's game at Villa Park and James Milner despatched the resulting spot-kick to give the home side an undeserved 1-0 victry.

"The decision regarding the penalty was a disgrace. I thought the referee was a disgrace the whole game through if I'm being honest," Johnson said.

"He's ruined the match and clearly shouldn't be doing these kind of games - it was too big for him.

"I got the ball cleanly, everyone could see that and the ref can't make a decision if he's not sure. The rules say if you're not sure, you don't give a penalty.

"Villa are at home, they've got the crowd behind them and the ref has made a split-second decision which is plain wrong.

"Did the referee explain the decision? Don't be silly. Referees don't talk to you. They just say 'go away'.

"You can't talk to them. They all ask for respect but you can't talk to them so it is a waste of time."