Bennett backed by FA chief
by Alex Livie, 26 March 2008
The independent chairman of The Football Association Lord Triesman has come out in support of Steve Bennett for his handling of Javier Mascherano at the weekend.
Mascherano was sent off in Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United, with his second caution coming on the back of some incessant berating of the official.
The consensus has been that Bennett handled the situation well, although Reds boss Rafa Benitez was unimpressed with the decision to dismiss the Argentine.
Benitez is keen to speak to referees’ chief Keith Hackett about the issue, but Triesman feels Bennett should not be questioned on the matter.
"I thought he had done what I would like to feel referees will do - which is to have the bottle to do what is necessary,” said Triesman.
"I'm not going to prejudge the issue because there may be hearings here, and I'm not going to cloud the process, but in my view it's the beginning of referees saying they are part of the equation.
"They have to use the powers they have. You can have the campaign, try to work with parents, devise new rules, but someone has to do it in the middle of the field."