FA to issue Santini warning

The Football Association are likely to officially warn Tottenham manager Jacques Santini after the Frenchman implied improper collusion between referee Peter Walton and Manchester United with comments after their clash at White Hart Lane.

Santini's team were beaten for the first time this season by a controversial penalty three minutes before half-time.

And he can expect a brusque letter from Soho Square after he told press and television interviewers that, during half-time, "the referee was seen laughing and smiling with their (United's) players and officials."

He added: "I have maybe seen that twice before in all my years as a coach and that is unbelievable.

"I do not know what was said between the referee and the people of Manchester United but the referee did not come into our dressing room."

The FA have seemingly dismissed Santini's allegations as something lost in translation but they are concerned by his remarks and want to remind managers of their responsibilities when speaking publicly.

There is unlikely to be any tangible punishment directed at Santini, however, especially if he accepts the most popular explanation that the banter clearly seen between United and the referee by somebody in the Spurs camp was a result of Walton discussing a point with some of the United players as they went down the tunnel at half-time.

The conversation apparently ended at the dressing room door where they parted with a jocular comment.

Walton, however, was not the first choice referee for the match which also perplexed Santini, who said: "I do not understand the situation. He was not the original referee for the game. It was changed three or four days before and I was very surprised.

"I was also not very happy with some of his decisions. We should have the best referee for this match but I don't understand why Graham Poll was taken away to another match."

In fact, Steve Bennett would have been in charge but he was relegated to fourth official two weeks after showing a second yellow card to Everton's Tim Cahill for hoisting his shirt over his head to celebrate scoring the winner against Manchester City.