Brendan Rodgers

[Mike]

Moyesy should get the same treatment as he slated Webb's performance also.

He better had do

On Rodgers, he probably knew he'd be punished. So long as the referee performances keep getting highlighted, then sooner or later something must change.

[Exiled_red]

It is alleged the comments by Rodgers called into question the integrity of the match referee, and/or implied that the match referee was motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute; and/or amounted to a failure to act in the best interests of the game.

I assume that this is the 'catch all' wording of the law that he's charged under, but which is he actually charged with?

IMO calling into question the integrity of the referee is very different from failing to act in the best interests of the game for example.

I assume the charge is relating to implied bias for the Greater Manchester comments but i) the FA should say that and ii) he is correct, it is the FA's fault in the first place they should they shouldn't have picked a referee from that area in the first place as it does open them and the referee up to these type of questions.

Regardless of all this we know he'll be found guilty as we all know what the FA's success rate is in charging people is.

[RichC]

Moyes won't be charged.

The FA show themselves up time and again for inconsistency but they're a law unto themselves it seems and seemingly above answering to anyone.

[Chris]

Hilarious how they're always banging on about integrity.

And Mourinho's charge for questioning Suarez integrity is where exactly? Lost in the post?

[RichC]

Anyway no point stressing about it, we all knew this would happen. Best to concentrate on what's happening on the pitch.

[Leyton388]

Watch Rodgers get a 5 game ban and £10k fine. While Gollum is allowed to roam around the touchline at mount doom.

[Boogs]

BR said about bias ref iirc because he was from the area.
Moyes said Webb got a load of decisions wrong and that the people who employee the refs need to have a look at it again and deal with it because he lost them the game.
From the quote above of charges I think the Moyes comment falls into the 'failing to act into the best interests of the game' so should get the same treatment

[Exiled_red]

BR said about bias ref iirc because he was from the area.
Moyes said Webb got a load of decisions wrong and that the people who employee the refs need to have a look at it again and deal with it because he lost them the game.
From the quote above of charges I think the Moyes comment falls into the 'failing to act into the best interests of the game' so should get the same treatment

Rodgers never used the word 'bias' but I am guessing that the implied bias is the reason he is being charged and Moyes won't.

Rogders comments were:

"I was surprised that we are playing in Manchester and we had a referee from Greater Manchester"

"Hopefully we won't have a Greater Manchester referee with Liverpool-Manchester games in future."

Technically they are just statements of fact, but coupled with the comments that the referee was crap and gave us nothing you can see how a charge on implied bias is arrived at.

For me however he does raise a valid point - assuming that the referees aren't biased then all it takes is a poor performance in such circumstances for questions of bias to be raised, and IMO the FA shouldn't have put the referee (or the clubs) in this position. The FA need to address this issue and charging Rodgers for highlighting it is a very short term solution. Perhaps Rodgers could have handled this better - by bringing the issue to the FA's attention before the game rather than after.

[wavydavy]

Earlier in the season didn't Moyes say something along the lines of " I find it hard to believe the way our first few games have come out" regarding the opening few Utd fixtures? What exactly was he implying. FWIW I think our guy is confident and articulate enough to go and tell the FA exactly how it is. He's really starting to feel good in his job lately imo. Really looking like an LFC manager.

[Fivex]

Brendan Rodgers

Good point about the Moyes thing. Was that said in an official press conference?

[Shaggy]

As for a conspiracy against United, Moyes said: “Well the old manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) told me those sort of things happened.

"I think it's the hardest start for 20 years that Manchester United have had. I hope it's not because Manchester United won the league quite comfortably last year (that) the fixtures have been made much more difficult.

"I find it hard to believe that's the way the balls came out of the bag, that's for sure

No charge.

[RichC]

Beggers belief, that's essentially saying the fixture list was rigged to make it tough for them.

How he wasn't charged for that.......

[mercury]

(1/4) Telegraph 2006 (via @DanKennett)headline reads "FA replace Cup final referee from the Wirral" :.....The FA have "complete faith in
(2/4) Dean's refereeing ability, integrity and impartiality", they said. "The fact he is from the Wirral might lead to comment and debate
Via Paul Tompkins Twitter

Utterly biased as if we didn't know! when it suits and only then!

[Exiled_red]

Amazing double standards

...but the kind of thing you would expect from the FA

[Shaggy]

And I think the Wirral is about the same distance from Anfield as Bolton is from Man City's ground. 20 miles or so.