Referee Announced To Take Charge Of Chelsea’s FA Cup Replay With Man Utd

Phil Dowd has been announced as the man to take charge of Chelsea’s FA Cup quarter final replay with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Easter Monday, according to the Daily Mail.

Dowd has a bit of a history with Sir Alex Ferguson with the United boss once questioning the referee’s fitness two seasons ago. He’s only taken charge of one United game this season, namely their FA Cup win over West Ham, when Ferguson’s team were controversially awarded a penalty when Jordan Spence was adjudged to have handled in the area but Dowd later ignored the Hammers call for a penalty of their own when Rafael also clearly handled in the box.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce accused Dowd of favouring United that day and was later fined for his post-match comments:

‘There’s no doubt about the difference between Rafael’s handball and Jordan Spence’s.

‘Spence plays for West Ham and the away team, while Rafael plays for the home side at Old Trafford. You see it time and time again at Old Trafford.

‘He couldn’t find the courage to give it unfortunately, and he then went down the other end and there was a very similar incident with Jordan Spence and it was given.

‘That is a very big disappointment for me – the lack of consistency in that area. I think you have to have courage to play here and to referee here.

‘But why are you a professional referee or player? To come to these places to do your job, and do it to the best of your ability.’ Allardyce is quoted as saying in the Mail.

Dowd has refereed two Chelsea games at Stamford Bridge so far this season with the Blues recording victories over Aston Villa and Newcastle that saw the Londoners score 10 goals and concede none, while he was also in charge when Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 in last season’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

So theoretically, Dowd should be seen as a popular choice by both sets of clubs this weekend, but no doubt one side will come away from the game feeling they were hard done by and decisions didn’t go there way. It’s usually the team on the losing side.

Are Chelsea and United fans happy with the referee chosen for the match? Get involved in the comments section below.