West Ham United boss Avram Grant denies FA improper conduct charge for comments made about referee after defeat to Stoke

EPL ; Avram Grant, West Ham United v Arsenal(getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Players

West Ham United manager Avram Grant has denied an FA charge of improper conduct brought against him for his post-match comments after the FA Cup quarter-final loss to Stoke City.

The FA charged the Israeli with improper conduct after he accused the referee of favouring Stoke in the second half of the game, when James Tomkins was denied a penalty after a tussle with Jonathan Walters in the box.

Despite his own side being on the positive end of some dubious officiating when the officials allowed Frederic Piquionne’s goal to stand despite the ball seeming to be controlled by the striker’s arm, Grant accused the referee of attempting to level the decisions.

He said after the game: “I think maybe this is the reason the referee started the second half very strange. Until they scored the second goal he gave fouls, a penalty, everything for them.

“It was a penalty for us at the end which he didn’t give. What happened with Tomkins was more bushido the Japanese code of conduct for samurai warriors. Maybe he felt a little bit guilty. I think it was the effect of the first goal for us.”

Unsurprisingly the FA charged him and he has now disputed the charge and requested a personal hearing which is due to be heard by the April 7.