Hughes: FA charge rubs salt into the wound

Daniel Storey

Mark Hughes says that his improper conduct charge from the Football Association “rubbed salt in the wounds” after Stoke’s 4-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Hughes was sent off after leaving his technical area, and originally admitted that the incident was his fault.

That admission now seems to have been revoked, with Hughes feeling that rules are inconsistently administered and the fourth official was unaware of the rules.

“It rubbed a little bit of salt into the wounds to be perfectly honest,” said Hughes.

“On the day the incident itself was maybe misinterpreted differently to how I felt it should have been.

“Clearly the charge relates to the area in and around the technical area which is another directive this year which seems to be imposed differently from one game to the next and needs to be more consistently followed by the officials.

“I was sent off for leaving the technical area and my understanding is that the improper conduct charge is because I didn’t leave immediately, which was a bit difficult because I didn’t know where to go and was hanging around for clarity.

“I was asking the fourth official Moss who, my understanding is, should know that information.”

Hughes did not contest the FA’s charge, something he explained by the futility of doing so.

“I didn’t think I’d win,” he said. “I think the FA has something like a 98 per cent strike rate.

“I would rather give the money to my grandchildren.”