Avram Grant maintains poor decisions have cost West Ham 10 points this season

EPL ; Avram Grant, West Ham United v Arsenal(getty Images)

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Avram Grant believes West Ham have suffered more from poor officiating than any other team this season.

The Israeli claims his side would have reaped another 10 points had every refereeing decision gone their way this term – currently, something which would put West Ham in contention of a Europa League place.

Despite his accusations, Grant maintains he accepts mistakes are part of the game and understands Sir Alex Ferguson’s recent criticisms directed at officials.

“We have suffered more than any other team at the very decisive moments – as everyone has seen on the television, the decision was against us too many times. If the decision was right, we would have had at least 10 points more,” Grant told reporters.

“This is part of the game. You can accept one decision that was for us but most of the decisions was against us.

“Everyone understands what Alex said and what he spoke about in the last games. I don’t know about Manchester United, I think about us.”

Grant is set to face a disciplinary hearing for comments made about Mike Jones after his side’s 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Stoke City, but the Israeli insists the ability of Premier League referees has not worsened over the seasons.

“No. They are making the same mistakes that they did before, the same good things,” he said.

“But I think that if you look at games even five years ago and now – and I suggest to everyone that they look – the game is much more quick.

“More players are athletes. Even if you look 10 years ago half of the players then were athletes and half technical, so the game has become more physical and more quick, so it is more difficult for the referees to take decisions.”

“This is referees – sometimes they make mistakes. I am not saying that one referee did it on purpose. But the game is much quicker so we need to help the referee so that they can do their job better.

“I have a few ideas about that but I don’t want to speak about this now, as when I speak what I think people think I am criticising the referee, which I don’t have an intention of doing.”