A27446021210778893A - Grant blast for Bennett

Bennett was in charge of Manchester United's 2-0 win at Wigan and came under fire for failing to award Wigan a penalty and then opting not to send off midfielder Paul Scholes for a second foul on Wilson Palacios.

"I told you that I believed in the tradition of the fair English game. I will not say anything against it. But what happened is what I expected," said Grant. "In England there are very good referees, but there are some - a few that you can influence, like you saw."

He added: "I think in our game against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the referee (Mike Dean) influenced the result for sure. We know that.

"I think the red card for Mikel John Obi in that game should not have been a red card, I think that Paul Scholes should have had a red card on Sunday and Wigan a penalty also. But it is finished. I congratulate Manchester United.

"I can say that after the game we won against Manchester United to get level on points, we knew that they had to play West Ham at home and Wigan away and that it was not in our hands."

But when asked if he was pleased an English referee would not be in charge of the final in Moscow, Grant replied: "I can say it like this, 'Yes'."