Harry Redknapp criticises referee after QPR's loss to West Brom

Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp was furious with two "scandalous" refereeing decisions during their 2-1 home defeat by West Brom on Boxing Day.

Referee Chris Foy allowed an own goal by QPR keeper Robert Green to stand and did not penalise Albion defender Liam Ridgewell for an apparent handball.

On the goal, Redknapp fumed: "It's a blatant foul. He [Marc-Antoine Fortune] is backing [Green] into the goal.

"And at the end it's a blatant penalty, Ridgewell's got his hands up."

The penalty shout came in the closing minutes as QPR, who returned to the bottom of the Premier League following the defeat, pressed for an equaliser.

Stephane Mbia's header clearly struck Ridgewell on the arm, a fact conceded by Albion manager Steve Clarke, who claimed that the referee "can't give it because it has hit Liam's arm from one yard".

"If it hadn't have hit his hand it would have hit his face so I think it's the correct decision," the Baggies boss said.

However, Redknapp countered: "We see penalties given when the ball is kicked from a yard away and Ridgewell's got his hands up.

"I asked the linesman how did he not see the penalty. Ridgewell's hand was up there, it's the most blatant handball and he couldn't see it.

"The linesman said it was murky down in that corner and he couldn't see it, so maybe he should go to an opticians.

"I can't do nothing about it. It's just poor refereeing. I had him [referee Foy) at Stoke last year when I was Tottenham manager and he let three penalties go, so what's the point in talking to him?

"We have had two terrible decisions that have cost us dearly."

The other decision, which happened earlier in the second half, led to West Brom opening a 2-0 lead through Chris Brunt and Green's own goal.

Armand Traore, in attempting to head Brunt's corner clear, succeeded only in sending the ball high into the air and towards his own goal-line.

Home keeper Green, who claimed he was being impeded by Fortune, could only palm the ball into his own net but Foy waved away QPR's protests.

"It was a foul," said Redknapp, who saw Djibril Cisse score a consolation for his side. "He's [Fortune] got no intention of playing the ball. He couldn't get a punch on the ball.

"How can a goalie get to the ball when someone who's got no intention of playing the ball is pushing into you?

"If he [Green] pushes him [Fortune] over or out the way, it's a penalty. It's a scandalous decision. Poor refereeing."

Clarke, however, felt Fortune would have been unfortunate to have been penalised.

"I've seen it on the video and I don't think Marc did a lot wrong," Clarke stated. "He stood his ground and Rob didn't get round him.

"But I don't want to talk about controversial decisions, I want to talk about having 33 points after 19 games and the gulf between the teams.

"It could have been 4-0 before they got their goal. Up until 68 minutes we had complete control and people should give us some respect."