The Football Association's Respect campaign was undermined last night when Rafael Benítez escaped punishment for criticising the referee Phil Dowd following Liverpool's defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. The Liverpool manager was warned as to his future conduct, however, for gesturing that Dowd needed his eyes testing "in a non-malicious and humorous manner".
Senior FA officials are believed to be surprised at the findings of an independent regulatory commission, which come amid increased attempts to protect match officials and ahead of a decision on whether to charge Sir Alex Ferguson for his attack on Alan Wiley's fitness.
Benítez's case represented the first test of the FA's new "hardline" stance this season but the governing body was left with "a bloody nose over a petty charge", according to Graham Bean, the FA's former compliance officer who represented the Liverpool manager at the hearing.
Benítez was cleared on two of three charges of improper conduct that arose following Liverpool's defeat at White Hart Lane on the opening weekend of the season. He was exonerated over criticism of Dowd's performance, in particular the referee's refusal to award Liverpool a second penalty on the day. "Can you get two penalties at an away ground? No. With this referee, I knew that this was impossible," said Benítez at the time.
The Spaniard, who denied improper conduct, was found guilty of misconduct for responding to a question about the referee by removing spectacles from his pocket and inspecting them. No fine was imposed or costs awarded against him.
A statement read: "The commission noted Mr Benítez's previous exemplary disciplinary record over 23 years as a coach and manager at the highest level of the sport. Taking into account all relevant factors, the commission concluded that the appropriate penalty was to warn Mr Benítez as to his future conduct with regards to interviews and press briefings."
The commission's decision represents a setback to the FA's Respect campaign, which this season led to pre-match comments on referees being outlawed and managers reminded that post-match criticism should not imply bias, be of a personal nature or question the match official's integrity. The panel was also critical of the FA for not charging another manager for a similar offence on the same weekend, believed to be Neil Warnock and his furious reaction to Freddie Sears' "phantom goal" for Crystal Palace against Bristol City. Warnock made a spectacles gesture at an assistant referee after Sears was not awarded a goal for a shot which had crossed the line.
Bean, whose company Football Factors represented Benítez, said: "This has exposed the Respect campaign for the PR exercise that it is. The commission clearly indicated that the charges should never have been brought. It would have been easier for the FA to write Rafael Benítez a letter to remind him of his responsibilities and instead it has been left with a bloody nose over a petty charge."
