Manchester United’s Louis van Gaal formally warned over referee comment

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/louis-van-gaal-warned-fa-comments-cambridge

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Louis van Gaal has been given a formal warning by the Football Association for comments he made following Manchester United’s FA Cup tie at Cambridge United which caused the manager to be charged with implying bias on the part of Chris Foy, the match referee.

A statement from the governing body issued on Wednesday afternoon said: “Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today [Wednesday 18 February 2015], Louis Van Gaal has been warned as to his future conduct after he was found to have breached FA Rules in relation to media comments.

“The Manchester United manager denied that his comments which followed The FA Cup Fourth Round tie against Cambridge United on 23 January 2015 alleged and/or implied bias on the part of the match referee, and/or brought the game into disrepute.”

After the match ended goalless, Van Gaal said: “Every aspect of a match is against us. We have to come here, the pitch isn’t so good, that can influence that you can play in another style. The opponents always give a lot more than they normally give and defending is always easier than attacking. Then you have seen the referee - it’s always the same. Everywhere I have coached these games, and I have coached them with other clubs, it’s always the same.”

Van Gaal subsequently stated he was “not angry but disappointed” at the charge, with it being the first time in his 24-year managerial career he had faced such a count.