DAVID MOYES has hit out at the FA this week after a £5,000 fine for his outburst at Alan Wiley’s decision not to award a penalty in the 3-2 victory at Stoke back in September.

The Everton manager has subsequently branded the FA “a law unto themselves” – but unfortunately that’s exactly what the FA are.

They’re the governing body of football, which means in most matters football-related they are the law. I understand what David Moyes is saying – they don’t always make the most sensible decisions, but I can’t see what the problem is with the punishment that’s been handed out this week.

David Moyes was sent to the stands for dissent against the referee after a penalty decision went against Everton at the Britannia Stadium.

I was booked many times in my playing career, but never once for dissent. It’s a waste of energy and a waste of a booking.

The FA may have admitted Alan Wiley was wrong not to award the penalty, but they have upheld the sending-off of Moyes and fined the manager.

The message the FA are trying to send out is clear – managers, just like players, have to respect the referee. The decision may have been wrong but managers and players are still required to behave with respect.

The fact that David Moyes pleaded guilty suggests the club felt there was a charge to answer and that the manager was guilty of that charge.

I really can’t see what the complication is. The refusal of Wiley to award a penalty and Moyes’ sending-off are two separate issues – the whole point of the Respect campaign is that you don’t kick off on the referee when a decision goes against you because you’re not going to change it.

To last weekend’s game against Middlesbrough – in last week’s column I said Boro were rarely a thrilling side, and they certainly were not thrilling at Goodison Park on Sunday.