Touchline bust-up leaves Benitez and Jewell facing rap
Friday, 28 December 2007
DERBY, England, Dec 27(AFP): Rafa Benitez and Paul Jewell could find themselves in hot water with the Football Association after clashing at Pride Park during Liverpool's last- gasp 2-1 win over the Premiership's bottom side.
The rival managers confronted each other during a stormy second half when Derby goal scorer Jay McEveley launched himself at Andriy Voronin with a crude challenge which left the Liverpool striker lying in a crumbled heap.
Benitez took exception to the tackle and raced out of his dug-out while Jewell thought Voronin had made the most of the tackle to get McEveley booked.
Both managers made their feelings clear before squaring up to each other as match officials struggled to calm the situation down.
The feuding duo were eventually pulled apart as the game continued but both Benitez and Jewell face an anxious wait to discover if they will be charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
FA officials will now wait to discover what is included in the match report of referee Alan Wiley before deciding whether or not to take the matter further.
Benitez said: "The longer the game went on the more physical and aggressive Derby were. For me, it was a bad tackle.
"He (Jewell) said his player didn't touch him but it was a different point of view. At least I didn't receive a tackle from him (Jewell) when he approached me."
A more pressing concern for Benitez is the fitness of influential defender Sami Hyypia.
The Finnish centre back limped out of the action after just 53 minutes with a damaged ankle and will undergo intensive tests and treatment in a bid to be fit for Sunday's crucial trip to Manchester City.
Benitez said: "Sammi has a problem with his knee and will have to go and see the club doctor. We will have to wait and see what happens with him but he will be a doubt."
Jewell has mounting injury problems of his own as he battles against the odds to save Derby from relegation.
Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater withdrew an hour before kick off with a shoulder problem while midfielder Stepehen Pearson was forced to go to hospital after suffering a dislocated shoulder in a challenge with his own team-mate, Darren Moore.
The rival managers confronted each other during a stormy second half when Derby goal scorer Jay McEveley launched himself at Andriy Voronin with a crude challenge which left the Liverpool striker lying in a crumbled heap.
Benitez took exception to the tackle and raced out of his dug-out while Jewell thought Voronin had made the most of the tackle to get McEveley booked.
Both managers made their feelings clear before squaring up to each other as match officials struggled to calm the situation down.
The feuding duo were eventually pulled apart as the game continued but both Benitez and Jewell face an anxious wait to discover if they will be charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
FA officials will now wait to discover what is included in the match report of referee Alan Wiley before deciding whether or not to take the matter further.
Benitez said: "The longer the game went on the more physical and aggressive Derby were. For me, it was a bad tackle.
"He (Jewell) said his player didn't touch him but it was a different point of view. At least I didn't receive a tackle from him (Jewell) when he approached me."
A more pressing concern for Benitez is the fitness of influential defender Sami Hyypia.
The Finnish centre back limped out of the action after just 53 minutes with a damaged ankle and will undergo intensive tests and treatment in a bid to be fit for Sunday's crucial trip to Manchester City.
Benitez said: "Sammi has a problem with his knee and will have to go and see the club doctor. We will have to wait and see what happens with him but he will be a doubt."
Jewell has mounting injury problems of his own as he battles against the odds to save Derby from relegation.
Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater withdrew an hour before kick off with a shoulder problem while midfielder Stepehen Pearson was forced to go to hospital after suffering a dislocated shoulder in a challenge with his own team-mate, Darren Moore.