20 Aug 2009FA 'calls on Benitez to explain referee suggestions'

Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

The Football Association (FA) has called on Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez to explain himself after he appeared to mock referee Phil Dowd and his assistants following his side's defeat to Tottenham.

Following the game, which the London side won 2-1, the Spaniard was asked what he thought of the officials' performance given that Liverpool were denied a penalty after striker Andriy Voronin appeared to have been fouled in the penalty area.

Rather than answering, Benitez simply took off his glasses and pointed at them in front of the assembled journalists, with the FA seeing this as going against its pre-season directive regarding making statements about referees' decisions.

As such, the Sun has reported that the FA has written to Anfield to ask the manager to explain his actions, with a fine or some similar punishment a possibility over the next few weeks.

At the same time, Benitez has publicly advised striker Fernando Torres to focus on scoring rather than allow himself to become involved in on-the-field arguments with opponents.

Written by Paul Roberts

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