---
title: "Crystal Palace: Fans rage at Martin Atkinson after goalless draw at Watford"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-fans-rage-at-martin-atkinson-after-goalless-draw-at-watford/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2019-12-07T19:30:41Z"
modified: "2019-12-07T19:30:41Z"
---

# Crystal Palace: Fans rage at Martin Atkinson after goalless draw at Watford

**[Referee Martin Atkinson](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50611311) was the target of scathing criticism from a large number of Crystal Palace fans during and after the Eagles’ 0-0 draw at Watford earlier today.**

Wilfried Zaha came in for some rough treatment from the Hornets, with six fouls given for challenges on the Ivorian, who was the most fouled player at Vicarage Road this afternoon. \[[via WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376290/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Watford-Crystal-Palace)\]

Although the 27-year-old “endured a difficult and physical afternoon”, in the words of [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50611311) reporter Mantej Mann, he ended up being booked for a tangle with Christian Kabasele in the first half.

A video clip shared by [@footballdaily](https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1203357323160412160) on Twitter showed Zaha’s frustration with Atkinson immediately after the final whistle blew.

The match report on [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/watford-vs-c-palace/408139) noted that the Eagles forward was “frequently being floored with tactical fouls from Watford, which resulted in several heated exchanges throughout the game”, while [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/1431965/2019/12/07/zaha-has-now-been-fouled-more-than-500-times-in-the-premier-league-heres-how-and-why/?source=shared-article)‘s Matt Woosnam reported that he has now been fouled more than 500 times in the Premier League.

Atkinson gave [16 fouls](https://www.premierleague.com/match/46763) against Crystal Palace and [booked James Tomkins as well as Zaha](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376290/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Watford-Crystal-Palace) in a sometimes tempestuous affair at Vicarage Road.

These Crystal Palace fans on Twitter vented their fury at Atkinson’s refereeing performance today:

> I don’t quite understand what Atkinson is trying to achieve with this agenda against Zaha. There’s no reason to hate him because the home fans do.
>
> — Sam (@SWPalace) [December 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/SWPalace/status/1203342497226874880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/TheEaglesBeak/status/1203343346648977408

https://twitter.com/xxmcwizardxx/status/1203357329128706048

https://twitter.com/Phillyconcarne/status/1203340888312823808

> How can this be a booking for Zaha. Martin Atkinson please explain ? [pic.twitter.com/RAux2YWE8G](https://t.co/RAux2YWE8G)
>
> — Paul Jeeves (@PJeevesie) [December 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/PJeevesie/status/1203363419421851648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Martin Atkinson feel hook, line and sinker for the home tactics today. Awful ref [#cpfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Gary Byfield (@GaryBizzle) [December 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/GaryBizzle/status/1203362896295743488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> If I was as bad at my job as Martin Atkinson, I’d be unemployable. Absolutely abysmal referee. [#cpfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Sam Hesketh (@abjekt) [December 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/abjekt/status/1203359606245908482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Do you think Atkinson had a poor game today? Does Zaha need greater protection from referees? Join in the discussion by commenting below!***