Hughes claims referees favour England`s ‘big four’

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes claims the Premier League’s ‘big four’ clubs enjoy more decisions in their favour because officals are in awe of their status.

Hughes’s side are bidding to smash the stranglehold on English’s top four places established by Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea over the last decade.

City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners spent over 120 million pounds on star signings during the close-season in an attempt to snatch a lucrative Champions League spot.

But Hughes has hinted that those clubs trying to force their way into the top four need to overcome what he believes is the assistance currently given to the English’s superpowers.

“You have to be careful because you cannot go around questioning the integrity of people trying to do their jobs,” Hughes told the Daily Mirror.

“But if you are talking about games involving Liverpool, United, Chelsea and Arsenal, they are big games with huge profiles and if decisions are incorrect, there are consequences. Key decisions become hugely significant.

“Maybe there’s a different mindset with the top four. They have had the benefit of a high profile over a long period and there is maybe a bit of gravitas in that.

“Maybe there’s also a bit of reverence from the powers that be in terms of their relationship with the personality involved in those clubs.

“The referees don’t exactly get sucked in to it, but it’s there. It’s not tangible – you can’t grab hold of it – but there is something out there and that is another thing we have to break down.”