David Moyes warned over conduct by FA following derby outburst

Apr 15 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

EFC manager David Moyes _320

DAVID MOYES has been warned by the Football Association over his future conduct following remarks made after Everton’s controversial derby defeat to Liverpool in October.

The Goodison manager was found guilty of improper conduct after appearing before an FA disciplinary committee in London yesterday.

Moyes was heavily critical of referee Mark Clattenburg following the 2-1 loss to their city rivals at Goodison Park.

Everton ended the game with nine men after Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were sent off and claimed they should have had a late penalty for a foul on Joleon Lescott by Jamie Carragher.

Moyes also suggested Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard was implicated in the red card for Hibbert, saying after the match: “The referee pulled out a yellow card and then the Liverpool captain has a word with him and it becomes a red.”

Moyes made further comments in the after-match media conference, and then again in the build-up to the next game against Larissa in the UEFA Cup the following week.

The FA’s regulatory commission have now considered Moyes’ comments and adjudged the Everton manager to have breached FA Rule E3 in relation to comments he made during at the UEFA Cup pre-match press conference on October 24.

A statement from the commission said: “Having considered all of he evidence and submissions, the commission concluded that the comments would reasonably be interpreted as calling into question the referee’s integrity and implying that he was motivated by bias.

“The commission recognised the charged atmosphere of the game and the frustration that Mr Moyes was feeling.

“It also took into account his exemplary disciplinary record.

“However, the commission also stated that it is very important for managers to exercise great care in making comments about referees as they set an example for others.”