Rafa’s official rant could spell trouble

RAFAEL BENITEZ could be investigated by the FA after claiming Stuart Atwell, the fourth official for Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat by Spurs yesterday, was too young to officiate top flight fixtures.

The Spanish manager was furious after his team saw two late penalty appeals turned down by referee Phil Dowd at White Hart Lane, first when Benoit Assou-Ekotto collided with substitute Andriy Voronin, then when the Cameroon defender inadvertently handled Fernando Torres’ cross.

Both claims appeared tenuous at best, but that view was not shared by the Liverpool coaching staff, who angrily harangued Atwell on the touchline. Sammy Lee, the visitors’ assistant manager, led the protests and, after Atwell consulted with Dowd, the former Liverpool midfielder was sent to the stands. Benitez refused to criticise Lee’s behaviour in the aftermath and instead reserved his ire for Atwell, the 26-year-old official who attracted criticism last season when he awarded Reading a ‘ghost goal’ against Watford.