Paul Pogba Was Livid After Referee Jon Moss Told Him 'Don't Take The P*ss'

Paul Pogba was fuming in the latter stages of Manchester United's win over Burnley after referee Jon Moss told him "Don't take the p*ss".

United moved eight points behind league leaders Manchester City after a 3-1 win where Mason Greenwood struck twice before Edinson Cavani wrapped up the victory in stoppage time.

But just before Cavani finished off a swift counter attack, United had been trying to run down the clock in the corner and Pogba attempted an extravagant rainbow flick that didn't quite come off.

In the same phase of play, the Frenchman was fouled by a frustrated Ashley Westwood.

Yet after winning the free-kick, Pogba was livid when Moss, the man in the middle, made a comment as he sat on the turf.

"Paul, don't take the piss," the referee said.

Pogba replied, "What do you mean, 'Take the piss? I'm playing football."

The United No.6 repeatedly asked the official, "What do you mean?" - with his hands out as he combined confusion with annoyance.

Given there were no fans in attendance at Old Trafford, the audio from the exchange between player and referee could be heard very clearly in a clip that has been circulating on social media.

And just as Pogba remonstrated with Moss, his teammate Greenwood cheekily nutmegged the referee while he sprayed the marking for the free-kick awarded.

In 2019, the Premier League launched an investigation into Moss' conduct after Bournemouth's Dan Gosling accused him of showing "zero respect" towards the Cherries during a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United.

Gosling told the Daily Echo: "I thought he was a disgrace. The comments that he made especially to me and one other player - talking about the relegation zone and 'you're still in the relegation zone', 'you're having one', 'your team's having one' this and that - and it was very, very disrespectful. I thought it was very disrespectful what he was saying."

Although the Premier League spoke to Moss and other officials in charge of the fixture, as well as reviewing audio from the referee's microphone conversations with players, no action was taken by the Premier League or Football Association.

Topics: Paul Pogba, Football, Manchester United

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

@https://twitter.com/JoshLawless_