Benitez: Was far from happy after Liverpool's defeat
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FA seek answers from angry Rafa
Rafael Benitez could be in trouble with the FA for his outburst against referee Phil Dowd following Liverpool's defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.
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The FA's compliance department will write to the Spaniard for an explanation following his comment about Dowd when asked after the game whether he would expect to get two penalties as an away team.
Benitez is reported as saying: "No, with this referee I knew that was impossible."
The FA are also concerned with Benitez's attempts at humour when asked about two penalty decisions that went against Liverpool in the final minutes.
Benitez had been furious that a push on Andriy Voronin by Benoit Assou-Ekotto had gone unpunished, as had a handling incident when a cross hit the same player on the arm as Liverpool were battling for an equaliser.
In the post-match press conference, Benitez had theatrically taken a glasses case out of his inside pocket, taken out the glasses and looked through them before putting them away again.
The implication was seemingly that Dowd either needed glasses or had not seen the incidents.
Assistant boss Sammy Lee was sent off by Dowd after the coach had been involved in a row with the fourth official.
It is believed that the FA are not prepared to quiz Benitez further on his suggestions that 26-year-old Stuart Attwell was too young to officiate at Premier League level.
The FA have introduced a new code of conduct this season that is specifically aimed at stopping managers commenting on referees before matches.
But it is also in place to stop attacks on referees' integrity and honesty while stopping managers from making personal slurs about officials.
Benitez was still annoyed on Tuesday about the outcome at Spurs, and suggested that he was in favour of technology to sort out contentious incidents.
He said: "I have not previously been in favour of using technology, but maybe after what I saw on Sunday, it would be a good idea.
"The referee (on Sunday) did make some mistakes, and we have been told that as managers we must not make personal attacks on officials, but I believe the referee missed at least one penalty.
"We also saw the disallowed goal on TV at Bristol City (denying Crystal Palace striker Freddie Sears a legitimate goal). Maybe technology is the answer."
However it is understood that the FA do not intend to issue Benitez with a severe punishment if they feel he has over-stepped the mark.
But they also feel that such a high-profile manager criticising an official so soon after the new directive needs addressing.
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Your Comments
supareds4eva (Liverpool fan)
"mk_gooner I'll answer your question.yes you may have gotten furthur in the KO tournaments but the premiership is the important one.In that aspect Liverpool far more superior than Arsenal."
ally1886 (Liverpool fan)
"if whiskey nose had made those same comments you wouldnt have heard a peep out of the FA!!Y.N.W.A"
chrissmith_10 (Liverpool fan)
"Not really defending Rafa's little moan, but I think there's a point to be made here. If the managers/coaches/players have been told not to comment on referees/decisions etc etc then why are the reporters allowed to keep asking the questions? The MOTD reporter asked Rafa about the decisions quite generally and his first answer was relatively calm and controlled. The reporter then went on to ask something in the region of 'Yeah, but do you think the ref made a big mistake?'... next Q 'So are you trying to say the ref is to blame?' COME ON!! Talk about putting words in people's mouths. Goading the managers on when they know inside they are fuming. It doesn't just happen to Rafa, it happens pretty much every game to the losing manager who was on the wrong end of a contentious decision. The media need to take more responsibility here too and I hope the FA make a public statement addressing this point IF they want to stick with their 'new' policy. Anyway...whatever happened to FREE-SPEECH?? Get the referees in at the post-match press conferences and let's hear some justification for their decisions. Managers might be less likely to slate them 10 minutes after the final whistle if they know they can face them in a press conference 20 minutes later. Rant over!!!"
we_miss_fowler (Liverpool fan)
"The FA's on its rag again.
Remember when Shankly said "If Everton were playing at the bottom of the garden, I'd pull the curtains?" - that was back when managers were allowed personalities, these days he'd be lynched for saying that.
Rafa, you should've told them you didn't see the foul, or the hand-ball, and you don't know who the referee is because you actually missed the whole game, but you still think he's super!"
zuluisgrate (Nottingham Forest fan)
"Man Utd and Liverpool fans are unbelievable... they both accuse each other of the same things they do themselves. Face it: both your managers have someone else to blame when they lose, be it the referee, linesman, kit man, 14-year-old boy in row T, pet cat Tiddles..."
lungo (Arsenal fan)
"liverpool_1986 the question is with what amount of money manure won and you become second, management doesn't solely deal with points!!use ur head!"
MRU_REDDEVIL (Manchester United fan)
"well deserved. and some fans out there are the first to criticise/react/foulmouth if SAF make some comments or make his feelings known to the ref during a match when we feel we had a decision gone against us or not given at all.
What goes around come around."
MESSIADH (Manchester United fan)
"about time.. 1st game of the season and he's off...
he's begining to sound like the scouse supporters, cryin' and ballin' all the time..
put the toys back in ...
"
lungo (Arsenal fan)
"menogwa@yahoo.co.uk (Liverpool fan)does last you didn't defeated by chance? what a stupid you are? but it is true you won in estanbul by chance!!!!!!!!!!!"
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