KEVIN Keegan could find himself carpeted by soccer's top brass after launching into a post-match tirade against referee Uriah Rennie.

The Manchester City boss called into question the Sheffield official's common sense after seeing his influential midfielder Christian Negouai sent off for two bookable offences after just 26 minutes.

''It was shocking refereeing, you have to have some common sense and obviously he didn't have enough for the Premiership - that is why he is down in our division,'' raged Keegan.

''I have told him what I think. The game could have been the best Worthington Cup tie of the round and it is a competition that needs a boost. Some teams have shown a lack of respect for it but this game never had a chance.''

'He was poor'

''Write about Uriah Rennie, not about the match or a player, that is what Uriah Rennie wants,'' he suggested. ''He has always been the same.

''I don't think he got many decisions right. I don't care what it costs me, if the FA want take it further then I will give them a tape of the game and they can make the same decision. I thought the referee was poor.

''I can't say anything nice about his performance.

''I don't care what the FA say, I will always speak my mind and I have told the referee that, so I am not saying anything in front of the media that I have not told him. Seventeen thousand people came to watch a cup-tie and I feel sorry for them.''

Are refs becoming too high profile? Let us know your views.