Moyes unsure over Riley's role

Toffees chief not so sweet on official choice

Last updated: 16th April 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Moyes unsure over Riley's role

Riley: Role questioned

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Everton manager David Moyes has questioned the decision to appoint Mike Riley to referee his side's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United at Wembley.

The Yorkshire official has been drafted in as a late replacement for Steve Bennett, who has withdrawn due to illness.

But Moyes, who has frequently not seen eye to eye with Riley, has responded to the suggestion that the official is a fan of United.

Riley upset Moyes way back in 2003 when he awarded a controversial penalty to United in the final game of the season that cost Everton a place in the Uefa Cup.

Riley also sent-off Tim Cahill in the 2-0 league defeat to Liverpool in September.

Appointment

And now Moyes has responded to questions about Riley's appointment ahead of Sunday's semi-final.

"A member of the press asked me if Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter - I think that is something you would need to bring up with the FA," Moyes told the club's official website.

"It is something that one or two managers would have something to say about. It is the FA's appointment; it was originally supposed to be Steve Bennett.

"If you (the press) are saying that Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter, you would hope the FA would look at that."

Honest

Moyes added that, in general, he believes English referees are doing a good job, but he did question the influence of the so-called 'big four'.

He said: "Referees in this country are very honest. They try to get the decisions right.

"I think they can be influenced, I think that has been seen in a couple of games I have been involved in recently."

A FA spokesman said: "All our referees are fair, unbiased and objective.

"Mike Riley is one of our top officials and we are 100% confident he will do a good job on Sunday."