Everton captain Phil Jagielka could face FA charge after branding referee Martin Atkinson 'arrogant'

Everton were furious at City's second goal

(AP)

Everton captain Phil Jagielka could face action from the Football Association (FA) after branding referee Martin Atkinson "arrogant".

The Toffees were furious with the referee with numerous decisions, but notably for Manchester City's second goal. Raheem Sterling beat John Stones on the left and cut back for Kevin De Bruyne to score, but Sterling clearly ran the ball beyond the touchline and a goal kick should have been given.

City, who had the better chances in the game, went on to win 3-1 and 4-3 on aggregate, to set up a Capital One Cup final meeting with Liverpool.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez said after the game that the decision was "hurtful and unfair" and ultimately cost his team the chance.

But skipper Jagielka said that Atkinson was "arrogant" and even claimed the referee had made a sarcastic remark to him in the immediate aftermath.

He was asked if he spoke to the referee after the decision.

"I tried to," he said. "He told me that our defending was brilliant so er... It's difficult when things start going the wrong way and they become a little bit arrogant.

"But unfortunately that's the way it goes with some of them."

Jagielka may face action under FA Rule E3 (1) which relates to general behaviour and improper conduct.

The rule states that "A Participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour."

Then-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho received a £50,000 fine and one-match stadium ban under the rule in October, for consistent tirades against match officials.


 Referee Martin Atkinson
 (Reuters)

The full transcript is below:

Question: How hard has that been to take?

Phil Jagielka: Yea really hard. You know your luck's not in obviously with the deflection for the first goal. And then as the game is heating up and they're piling on the pressure, there were some decisions that still bemuse me now. Throw ins given for... I don't know. Unfortunately the ball was out of play... I'm pretty speechless. I'm not saying it's the best we've played but certainly didn't get anything out that we potentially put in there.

Q: Did the lads stop? Were they certain that the ball went out of play?

PJ: Not stopped, no. Fair play, you keep going and stuff. The ball was a great cut back and a great finish. But I think the replays show it's not just an inch it's gone out is it so, you know, you expect the officials, that are supposed to be of a high standard to spot that but tonight obviously wasnt one of those nights.

Q: Did you speak to the referee?

PJ: I tried to," he said. "He told me that our defending was brilliant so er... It's difficult when things start going the wrong way and they become a little bit arrogant. But unfortunately that's the way it goes with some of them.

Q: Did he say that to you?

PJ: That's the way it goes. If he made a decision wrong or he didn't see it that's what happens but sometimes you go and speak to people and... in such a big game [to] get the answers you get makes it a little bit more frustrating.

Q: Do you think referees should be made to explain thought process after games? They are accountable.

PJ: It's difficult. I don't think you'd have too many referees wanting to referee anymore if they had to do that. It's a bit of a difficult one to be honest. Obviously he saw what he saw, or he didn't see what he didn't see. The one that baffles me is the throw in that gets given the opposite way as well which he told me was a foul throw. Don't understand how it can be a foul throw if you've not actually thrown the ball. It's like taking a corner [outside] the quadrant and not kicking it and it being a foul corner... So it's frustrating, you can tell by my face, it's been a frustrating night.

But at the end of the day it's contributed to us losing the game, it's not the be all and end all. Like I said before as far as luck goes and stuff like that we're massively frustrated.

Q: Were things against you?

PJ: Well not for the whole game, City played well. They hit the post and all sorts of stuff like that, I'm not stupid enough to not realise that