West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce was charged with misconduct by the Football Association on Friday after criticising referee Phil Dowd following his side's FA Cup defeat by Manchester United.
The Hammers lost the third round replay 1-0 to an early Wayne Rooney goal at Old Trafford before the England forward missed from the penalty spot following a Jordan Spence handball.
But Allardyce insisted afterwards the Hammers should have had a spot-kick of their own shortly before United's penalty when United's Rafael appeared to handle in similar fashion inside his own box.
"Spence plays for West Ham and the away team, while Rafael plays for the home side at Old Trafford," Allardyce told ITV.
"You see it time and time again at Old Trafford," added the Hammers boss as he expressed a widely-held view within English football that referees are inclined favour United when they are at home.
Allardyce subsequently told reporters: "He (Dowd) couldn't find the courage to give it (the penalty) unfortunately, and he then went down the other end and there was a very similar incident with Jordan Spence and it was given.
"That is a very big disappointment for me -- the lack of consistency in that area...I think you have to have courage to play here and to referee here.
"But why are you a professional referee or player? To come to these places to do your job, and do it to the best of your ability.
"Phil Dowd is a hugely experienced referee and one of the top ones in this country, but today I have to say he did get it wrong."
The FA said Friday that Allardyce had until next Wednesday to respond to the charge.
Source: AFP
