“I’M not usually one for criticising referees but...”

How many times have you heard a manager complete that phrase during a post-match interview at any level of the game?

It is the classic opening gambit in football and I’m going to use it right now.

I’m not usually one for criticising referees but Chris Foy and his assistants dropped an almighty clanger in the Tottenham versus Sunderland Premier League match at the weekend.

For those of you that missed the highlights, Spurs’ Jan Vertonghen had a goal ruled out for offside despite being in his own half of the pitch.

In fact, every player bar Sunderland defender Patrick van Aanholt was in the hosts’ half. Even, crucially, Black Cats keeper Costel Pantilimon, who had ventured forward for a corner.

As it happened, the decision had no baring on the result - a 2-1 Tottenham win - which is probably why relatively little fuss has been made of it.

Had the match ended 1-1, you can bet that the reaction would have gone into overdrive.

But it doesn’t get away from the fact that the officials failed to apply the most basic of football laws — that you cannot be offside in your own half.

While I accept it is a tough job, and I certainly wouldn’t want to do it, these are the best referees in England .

They should be getting such straightforward decisions right.

It would look bad if a Sunday league referee missed it, never mind one in the Premier League.

So, just as players and managers take the flak, so should the referees when they make an obvious howler.