David Moyes hit by FA charge for derby views

Nov 28 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVID MOYES has been charged by the Football Association following comments made about referee Mark Clattenburg after the controversial derby defeat to Liverpool last month.

Clattenburg infuriated Everton with a string of decisions as they slipped to a last-gasp 2-1 loss at Goodison Park on October 20.

The referee sent off Everton pair Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville for conceding second-half penalties, but Moyes was more incensed by Clattenburg’s refusal to award a late penalty when Jamie Carragher tangled with Joleon Lescott in the box.

The manager was similarly upset that Dirk Kuyt, who scored both Liverpool goals, was not red-carded for an ugly two-footed lunge at Neville.

Moyes said after the game: “We deserved that penalty if not more and, if the other penalties were more blatant than that, then I am in the wrong game.

“I am seemingly seeing football differently. If the referee does not see that you have got to ask why. Maybe they should not be there.

“It can’t just be me being bitter, people asked was the referee biased and I can’t comment but we got nothing at all.”

Immediately after the derby, an FA insider said it was “highly unlikely” Moyes would be punished for his comments.

But Moyes has now been charged with two breaches of FA rule E3 in respect of comments he made immediately following the game and also comments he made in a Press conference the following week.

He has until December 11 to respond to the charge, an opportunity Moyes is likely to take up given his quote during the week following the derby that stated: “I know the real story and what’s really gone on from the referee and his comments to me, so if the FA really want to hear the real comments then I can explain them.”

The FA charge stated that “it is alleged that the comments made referring to referee Mark Clattenburg on each respective occasion amount to improper conduct as they call into question Mr Clattenburg’s integrity and/or imply that Mr Clattenburg was motivated by bias”.

Meanwhile, Moyes is not on the shortlist to replace Alex McLeish as Scotland manager – because the Scottish Football Association don’t believe they can prise him away from Goodison Park.

McLeish yesterday made the surprise decision to resign from the Scottish national team to take over as manager of Birmingham City.

Former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister is the early favourite to succeed McLeish, with Graeme Souness, Craig Levein, Billy Davies, Jim Jeffries and Tommy Burns also considered contenders.

It is understood the powers in Scotland would jump at the chance to appoint Moyes, but accept there is no chance the manager would presently give up his position at Goodison.

Swindon Town defender Ben Tozer will have a four-day trial at Everton. The 17-year-old will return to the County Ground in time for Saturday's FA Cup tie against Forest Green Rovers.