Moyes concerned by Riley choice for FA semi

Everton manager David Moyes admits he is concerned by the Football Association’s decision to appoint Mike Riley as referee for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United at Wembley.

Riley is a late replacement for Steve Bennett, who has withdrawn due to illness, but Moyes has had several disagreements with Riley over his decisions in Everton matches and raised the suggestion that the official could be a United fan.

Riley upset Moyes in 2003 when he awarded a controversial penalty to United in the final game of the season that cost Everton a place in the UEFA Cup. He also sent off Tim Cahill in the 2-0 league defeat against Liverpool in September.

“A member of the press asked me if Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter – I think that is something you would need to bring up with the FA,” Moyes told Everton’s website.

“It is something that one or two managers would have something to say about. It is the FA’s appointment; it was originally supposed to be Steve Bennett.

“If you (the press) are saying that Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter, you would hope the FA would look at that.”

The FA responded by giving Riley their full back. “All our referees are fair, unbiased and objective,” the spokesman said. “Mike Riley is one of our top officials and we are 100 percent confident he will do a good job on Sunday.”