• Premier League

Rodgers asked to explain comments on officials

The FA has asked Brendan Rodgers to explain his comments regarding referee Lee Mason following Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

Rodgers was left furious at the decision to appoint a referee from Greater Manchester to officiate the Boxing Day game at the Etihad, and launched a scathing attack on the officials after the loss.

However, Rodgers has now been asked to explain his outburst - in which he branded the officials' performance as "horrendous" - and has until January 2 to respond. The FA will then decide whether any further action will be taken, if deciding that rule E3 (1) has been breached.

The rule deals with any comments made about an official which could imply bias, are personally offensive or attack their integrity.

"We have contacted Brendan Rodgers to seek his observations in relation to his post-match comments made following the game at Manchester City," an FA spokesperson said.

Speaking in Friday's press conference ahead of their game with Chelsea, Rodgers said: "I was only speaking honestly after the game. I think the FA and the Referees' Association know perfectly well I am someone who engages in supporting the referees.

"I am not on that berates referees at all after games, I always respect them. I ask my staff to be respectful. In terms of geography, I certainly wasn't questioning the integrity of referees.

"It was more the logic of it in terms of having a referee from that part of the world refereeing a game in Manchester. I wouldn't suspect that Mike Dean, from the Wirral, has refereed many games for Liverpool over the years."

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