Ian Holloway: 'Give referees microphones'

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has admitted that football should take a leaf out of rugby union's book by supplying match officials with microphones.

Currently referees in rugby are provided with a recording device that allows everybody to hear them explain the reasons behind the decisions that they make.

Discussing his viewpoint, 50-year-old Holloway has insisted that a lot of problems would be prevented in football if instant reasoning was given by the referee in charge.

"I watched a lot of rugby union last weekend and one of the things that really impresses me about the game is that the match officials are ­miked-up," he told The Mirror.

"I accept there is a different culture in ­rugger when it comes to ­players talking to ­referees, but if the football ­authorities gave our officials microphones it would solve so many problems.

"First of all, there would be concrete evidence of any ­conversations that take place between the referee, his ­assistants and the players. But it would also provide a ­medium for the officials to explain the decisions they have made."

Holloway was recently fined for his criticism of referee Dean Whitestone following Palace's 2-2 draw with Leeds United at Selhurst Park.