Benitez warned as to future conduct

At an independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was warned as to his future conduct.

Benitez denied a charge of improper conduct relating to comments made to the media about referee Phil Dowd after his side's fixture at Tottenham Hotspur on 16 August.

The independent Commission stated: “A Regulatory Commission of The Football Association has found Mr Rafael Benitez guilty of misconduct in relation to a breach of FA Rule E3, arising out of a gesture made by him during a post match briefing following the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool on 16 August 2009. The Commission concluded the gesture was objectively offensive.

“Two other aspects of the misconduct charge against Mr Benitez were dismissed by the Commission.

“The Commission noted Mr Benitez's previous exemplary disciplinary record over 23 years as a coach and manager at the highest level of the sport. Taking into account all relevant factors, the Commission concluded that the appropriate penalty was to warn Mr Benitez as to his future conduct with regards to interviews and press briefings.”