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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ian Mitchelmore

The story behind Swansea City boss Steve Cooper's Sheffield Wednesday referee rage and what sparked it

Steve Cooper cut a frustrated figure as he spoke to the media following Swansea City's 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Andre Ayew's second-half strike cancelled out Adam Reach's 27th-minute opener as the points were shared at the Liberty Stadium.

However, the hosts thought they had won it at the death as Kasey Palmer's overhead kick looped into the back of the net, only for referee Andy Woolmer to controversially disallow the effort.

Cooper revealed he spoke to the Football Association about Northamptonshire official Woolmer before the fixture in south Wales.

"The end was the end. Apparently it was a foul on the goalkeeper that he blew the whistle for. Good luck in writing about that one, whatever it was," said the Swansea head coach.

"But it was a performance I predicted from the official and one that I spoke to the governing body about a few days ago. My prediction was right.

"One thing was for sure, that, whatever the decision was, it was not going to us. It's personal unfortunately."

Woolmer took charge of five Swansea matches during Cooper's debut campaign at the club.

And while he refused to confirm which incident(s) from the past had prompted his phone call to the FA, Cooper's frustrations with the official may well have stemmed from Swansea's 0-0 draw with Queens Park Rangers in February.

In what was a turgid Championship affair against the Rs, Swansea had three penalty claims waved away by Woolmer.

On 60 minutes, Yan Dhanda went down in the box under a challenge from Yoann Barbet, although no penalty was given.

In the final minute of the game, Rhian Brewster was blatantly brought down by goalkeeper Liam Kelly, but, once again, Woolmer refused to point to the spot.

And the final claim came in injury time as Ayew went down in the penalty area, although he didn't earn a spot-kick, much to the frustration of Cooper.

"They're two penalties for me. I've looked back at them. I've been to see the referee to talk it through with him," he said after the QPR game earlier this year.

"I think the first one on Yan, you've seen them given. I get it, the boy is just a bit bigger than Yan.

"But, for me, he's taken Rhian's leg, the goalkeeper when he scooped the ball.

"For the amount of free-kicks the ref gave, and what for, how he hasn't given that on Andre at the end is beyond me really."

Cooper could well find himself in hot water with the FA as a result of his comments after the draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Although it's clear to see he has every right to be frustrated with the decisions that have gone against his side.

The Swans return to action against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground on Sunday.

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