CHELSEA manager Avram Grant has risked the wrath of the Football Association by questioning the integrity of referee Steve Bennett.
Bennett was in charge of Manchester United's last match of the season at Wigan on Sunday where goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs clinched a tenth Premier League title for Sir Alex Ferguson.
But the official came under fire for failing to
award Wigan a penalty and then opting not to send off midfielder Paul Scholes for a second foul on Wilson Palacios.
Although the Chelsea manager continued to congratulate United on their title success, he called Bennett's integrity into question and said he was happy no English referee would be in charge of next week's Champions League final against Ferguson's side.
"I can say that after the game we won against Manchester United to get level on points, we knew that they had to play West Ham at home and Wigan away and that it was not in our hands," said Grant.
"I told you that I believed in the tradition of the fair English game. I will not say anything against it. But what happened is what I expected.
"In England, there are very good referees, but there are some – a few that you can influence, like you saw.
"I think in our game against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the referee (Mike Dean] influenced the result for sure. We know that. I think the red card for Mikel John Obi in that game should not have been a red card, I think that Paul Scholes should have had a red card on Sunday and Wigan a penalty also. But it is finished. I congratulate Manchester United."
But when asked if he was pleased an English referee would not be in charge of the final in Moscow, Grant replied: "I can say it like this, 'Yes'."
Grant still finds it strange his future at the club is called into question despite leading Chelsea to the first Champions League final in their history.
The 52-year-old Israeli insists he will be in charge at the start of next season but refused to talk about the futures of striker Didier Drogba or England midfielder Frank Lampard.
Both have been the subject of intense speculation during the season and Lampard has yet to sign a long-term extension to his current contract, which has just over a year to run.
But while Grant was more than confident he would still be in charge next season, he could not offer the fans any hope Drogba or Lampard would be in his squad.
"I will not talk about next year," said Grant. "Basically we are very happy with the squad. They have done unbelievable things this year.
"Every time we create history we want it to be the base for the future. We are very happy that we are in the final for the first time. But we want to continue. The future will be very good for Chelsea.
"I find it strange (the debate over his future] because I have a contract for four years, even though it is a contract between friends (owner Roman Abramovich], we don't involve friendship in our business.
"If I had a contract for one year, then it would be okay. It doesn't bother me. It happens in football, sometimes the coach doesn't like the team, sometimes the team doesn't like the coach. Maybe they should tell me every two weeks that I should continue."
Grant refuses to bask in the success of leading Chelsea into the biggest game in their history, but insists it will not be the last time they reach the final.
"The club was in the semi- final three times, which means this is a good club – more than good," said Grant.
"The main target was to be in the final because this is the stamp of a big club. We are in the final and we want more. It was the dream of the club, more than anything else to be in the final.
"I am very happy to be in the final. When you come to a club and it is the first time in their history, I am even more happy.
"But, if I win ten titles in ten years, I will always feel I have something to prove. The minute you don't think you have anything to prove you have a problem.
"We have created tradition here. Chelsea did not have a tradition. It started a few years ago when they got to the semi-final of the Champions League for the first time.
"You will see in the next year that we will develop and, although not every year, it will not be the last time we are in the final."
On the actual match against United in Moscow he added: "I don't think Alex Ferguson will surprise me with anything. I don't think I will surprise him.
"We know their weaknesses, we know their strengths. I think they know ours."
The full article contains 841 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
