AVRAM GRANT has risked sanction from the English Football Association by casting doubt on the performances of the referees Steve Bennett and Mike Dean.

The Chelsea manager pinpointed decisions made by the pair in key matches in the title race which he said had favoured Manchester United, effectively at his club's expense, suggesting they were two of "a few" English officials who he felt could be "influenced".

Grant has long bemoaned Dean's decision to show Mikel John Obi a straight red card at Old Trafford in the manager's first game in charge back in September, and he was just as perplexed by Bennett's performance in United's vital 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Sunday after watching a rerun of the game.

The referee denied the hosts a first-half penalty when Rio Ferdinand handled in the area, then opted against sending off Paul Scholes after the midfielder, already booked, brought down Wilson Palacios.

"I watched the game, yes," said Grant. "From what point? The referee? He was as expected: good for one team. I think that in the game we played against United at Old Trafford the referee changed the result for sure. We know that. The red card for Mikel was not a red card.

"The red card for Scholes on Sunday should have been. Then there was the penalty. But it's finished. I congratulate United. I do not think the world is against Chelsea, or English football. But in this case there were some coincidences for Manchester United. But again, I congratulate them."

"I told you I believe in the tradition of the fair English game. . . But what happened is what I expected. I think in England there are some very good referees. But there are some, a few of them, you can influence, like you saw. I will not say more than this."

The implication was that Bennett had been intimidated by Alex Ferguson and United into favouring the league leaders, a suggestion which the FA may consider to have brought the game into disrepute. Dean declined to comment when contacted last night and Bennett was unavailable for comment, as was the referees' chief, Keith Hackett.

Chelsea face United once again in Moscow in the European Cup final next week, with Grant pleased that the all-English showpiece at the Luzhniki Stadium will not be refereed by an Englishman.

"I can say I am, yes," he said.