FA warn Moyes about future conduct

LONDON, England -- Everton manager David Moyes has been warned by the English Football Association over his future conduct following remarks made after the Merseyside derby against Liverpool last October that ended with his team being reduced to nine men.

Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were sent off and Everton also claimed they should have had a late penalty for a foul on Joleon Lescott by Jamie Carragher.

Moyes was heavily critical of referee Mark Clattenburg and also suggested Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was implicated in the red card for Hibbert, saying after the match: "The referee pulled out a yellow card and then the Liverpool captain has a word with him and it becomes a red."

Moyes made comments in the after-match media conference, and then again in the build-up to the next match against Greek side Larissa in the UEFA Cup the following week.

Moyes was also disappointed with an exchange he had with Clattenburg after the derby defeat, Liverpool winning with two penalties from Dirk Kuyt.

A statement from the FA said: "Having considered all of the evidence and submissions, we conclude that the comments would reasonably be interpreted as calling into question the referee's integrity and implying that he was motivated by bias.

"We recognise the charged atmosphere of the game and the frustration that Mr Moyes was feeling and have also taken into account his exemplary disciplinary record.

"However, it is very important for managers to exercise great care in making comments about referees as they set an example for others." E-mail to a friend