FA want Grant answers

[coco]

The Football Association have written to Chelsea coach Avram Grant to ask him to explain his remarks about referee Steve Bennett.

Grant called Bennett's integrity into question after Manchester United's 2-0 win at Wigan last Sunday earned a tenth Premier League title for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea, level on points with United before kick-off, could only draw at home with Bolton.

But Bennett came under fire for not awarding Wigan a penalty for handball and then opting not to send off Paul Scholes for a second bookable offence when he fouled Wilson Palacios.

At his Champions League media conference on Wednesday Grant said: "I told you that I believed in the tradition of the fair English game. I will not say anything against it. But what happened is what I expected.

"In England there are very good referees, but there are some - a few that you can influence, like you saw.

"I think in our game against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the referee (Mike Dean) influenced the result for sure. We know that.

"I think the red card for Mikel John Obi in that game should not have been a red card, I think that Paul Scholes should have had a red card on Sunday and Wigan a penalty also. But it is finished. I congratulate Manchester United."

Grant has until May 28 to reply.

SOURCE

[Mod]

So it's the same old Chelsea thing, regardless of who the Manager is at the time.

Fergie and Wenger (and many other managers) say what they want, week in, week out, nothing said to them!

[dkw]

if this gets sorted before fergie and his sidekick get done then the fa are just showing themselves to be a biased organisation. theirs an outstanding fa charge against fergie and the sidekick at the moment.

[BLUENUT]

if this gets sorted before fergie and his sidekick get done then the fa are just showing themselves to be a biased organisation. theirs an outstanding fa charge against fergie and the sidekick at the moment.

What about half their team fighting with our ground staff........or have we heard the last of that one aswell

[coco]

Alex Ferguson blames referee for Portsmouth loss

Manchester United’s dramatic loss to Portsmouth puts them out the FA Cup and demolishes their treble hopes.

Alex Ferguson seems to think that it was the referee’s fault they got knocked out the FA cup. This is what he has to say:

“It’s absolutely ridiculous. I just cannot explain that decision. Managers get sacked on the basis of things like that. And he’s going to referee a game next week? It’s ridiculous.”

“We missed a lot of chances for one, but the refereeing performance… Keith Hackett (of Match Officials Board) has got a lot to answer for. He’s not doing his job properly.

“He should be assessed like everyone else. Martin Atkinson will referee next week, no problem. But his performance today should not be accepted in our game. I agree with Sepp Blatter, the standards here as opposed to the Continent is behind Europe. It’s a big problem.”

Did Fergy have to explain himself for that ? No.

[dkw]

im sure that will be brushed under the carpet bluenut. remember, its only chelsea that can be fined for lack of control of their players. its an fa rule i think.

edit.. thats the one i meant coco.

[coco]

All AG said is that Bennett influenced the game, which all referees do by making right/wrong decisions.

He didnt say Frgy or anyone else had influenced him, just that Bennett influenced the match outcome.

Cant see no problem with that.

[dkw]

you arent a defence lawyer are you coco?

[coco]

you arent a defence lawyer are you coco?

I object.

[geezer]

you arent a defence lawyer are you coco?

I object.

As the FA would say, if you're defending CFC "objection overruled" or if you're defending the Mancs "objection accepted"

[dkw]

your objection is frivelous. 5 match ban....