Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham boss Avram Grant charged by FA over referee blast
West Ham manager Avram Grant has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following comments he made about match official Mike Jones after his side's 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Stoke at the weekend.[LNB]Grant was left disappointed after seeing his side crash out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, and claimed afterwards that the Hammers should have been awarded a penalty in the second half.[LNB]Grant has until 4pm on March 21 to respond to the charge.[LNB] Out of order: Avram Grant was furious with the ref after West Ham crashed out of the Cup[LNB]After the match Grant hit out at Jones' handling of the second half, which began with Stoke being awarded a penalty just 13 seconds after the restart.[LNB]Matthew Etherington missed the spot-kick but Grant intimated he felt that Jones had been swayed by the home fans after Frederic Piquionne appeared to handle in the lead-up to the Hammers' opener in the first half.[LNB]'I think maybe this is the reason the referee started the second half very strange," Grant said of Stoke's penalty award.[LNB] Spot of bother: Ref Mike Jones is confronted by West Ham's Scott Parker and Mark Noble after awarding a penalty to Stoke[LNB]'Until they scored (the second) goal he gave fouls, a penalty, everything for them.[LNB]'It was a penalty for us at the end which he didn't give. What happened with (James) Tomkins was more bushido (the Japanese code of conduct for samurai warriors).[LNB]'Maybe he felt a little bit guilty. I think it was the effect of the first goal for us.'[LNB] Keane reveals injury frustration as West Ham striker targets games - and goalsGolden Oldies: Why are goalkeepers playing well into their 40s?All the latest West Ham news, features and opinionAll the latest Stoke news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Matthew Etherington Organisations: Football Association
