Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb claimed it was “embarrassing” that the officials failed to spot a foul in the build-up to Chesterfield’s winner on Saturday.
The Fleet’s resistance was finally broken with seven minutes left against a team that went top of the National League after Armando Dobra’s bagged the only goal of the game at Stonebridge Road.
But Ebbsfleet felt Joe Martin was fouled off the ball by Dobra during the build-up, with the Fleet defender booked for his protests by referee Paul Johnson.
Kutrieb, who was himself serving a one-game touchline ban after collecting three yellow cards this season for technical area misconduct, was not impressed. “I’m suspended, I can’t watch a game of football, we’re not allowed to speak about referees but how he cannot see the foul in the build-up play, for me, is embarrassing,” said the Fleet boss. “I get all the pressure and everything else but as a referee, and a linesman even better, you just need to watch.