Former Premier League Referee Graham Poll has weighed in on the sensational Rafa rant against Fergie and the influence that the Scot might have with the FA.

Via Soccernet

Poll was considered the Premier League’s top official until his retirement at the end of the 2006-07 season.

He enjoyed a good relationship with Ferguson, who even phoned Poll to offer him support in the wake of his gaffe at the 2006 World Cup, when he showed Croatia’s Josip Simunic three yellow cards.

But the former referee agrees with Benitez’s suggestion that the United boss receives preferential treatment from FA disciplinary chiefs.

“Rafa Benitez has articulated what referees have been thinking for years – that Sir Alex Ferguson can say what he wants about them and the FA will allow him to get away with it,” he told the Daily Mail.

“The authorities could point to Ferguson’s two-match ban imposed earlier this season as proof that he is not out of reach of their disciplinary department, but that was for marching onto the field after the 4-3 win over Hull and for comments made directly to the referee, Mike Dean, who in reporting the misconduct forced the FA’s hand.”

An FA spokesman said Benitez’s comments would be reviewed “in their full context” next week before any decision is reached on whether to take action against the Reds boss.

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