Spurs boss Ho wants 'more support and training' for WSL referees

Tottenham manager Martin Ho says Women's Super League referees "need more support" as he vented his frustration over a controversial penalty decision in their derby defeat by Arsenal.

A 2-1 win for the Gunners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday was settled by Alessia Russo's spot-kick in the 56th minute.

Referee Phoebe Cross awarded the decision after Lisa Baum's shot bounced off the post and Cathinka Tandberg's clearance hit Spurs team-mate Ella Morris' outstretched hand.

According to the laws, if the ball hits a hand after it was played by a team-mate, a penalty should not be awarded.

Ho said: "My interpretation of the rule is if your team-mate hits it and your team-mate is one yard away, time and distance is taken into account and it's not a penalty.

"That's what we were told at the start of the season in the referee's meeting. I asked the question, 'how is it [a penalty] from that distance?' They couldn't give me an answer on the pitch.

"I said I would come and speak to them after the game because I want to understand it, I want to understand what they're seeing. Then I can accept a decision that is there. When that decides a game, it's frustrating, because it's not within the laws of the game."

Ho admitted WSL referees have "a hard enough job" to do, but believes the standards have "got worse than last year".

There is currently no use of video assistant referees (VAR) or goalline technology in the WSL, while not all officials are full-time.

Earlier this month, the Guardian reported, external the wait for full-time WSL referees was set to continue until 2029 despite a recent funding boost.

Asked how standards could improve, Ho added: "They need more support and more full-time [referees].

"I understand there is probably a rule where they can't do more than one game on a weekend and that's nothing against any of the referees, but they had an elite referee [Lisa Benn] on the side the pitch. For a big game, put them in the middle.

"I think that's where they need more support, more training, because when you look at most decisions that are going on, there's a lot of controversy in a lot of games.

"We got two bookings in the first half but we were being dragged back by the shirt by Arsenal players and didn't get anything. That's probably the frustrating part."

It is understood that Pro Ref - the official body responsible for managing and developing match officials across England - are working closely with WSL Football and the Football Association to set out a plan that ensures professionalisation of officiating in the women’s game.

Clubs have been informed of the approach and it was agreed by them in the most recent WSL shareholders meeting.

Additional funding has been agreed for the next three years to strengthen a range of areas in the women's game including officiating, as well as coaching development, performance analysis and medical support.