Soccer: West Ham manager Avram Grant will be banished to the stands for two vital games in the Barclays Premier League run-in after being found guilty of improper conduct relating to comments made about referee Mike Jones in the aftermath of the Hammers' 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Stoke last month.
The punishment for Grant comes on the same day that the club have confirmed they are investigating allegations of racist abuse by supporters directed at the families of West Ham players Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne during Saturday's match against Manchester United.
Grant has been banned for the matches against Bolton and Aston Villa after being found guilty of improper conduct, and was also fined £6,000.
Grant hit out at referee Jones' handling of the second half at the Britannia Stadium, which began with the home side being awarded a penalty just 13 seconds after the restart.
Matthew Etherington missed the spot-kick but Grant intimated he felt that Jones had been swayed by the home fans after Piquionne appeared to handle in the lead-up to the Hammers' opener in the first half.
"I think maybe this is the reason the referee started the second half very strange," he said of the penalty award. "Until they scored the (second) goal he gave fouls, a penalty, everything for them.
"It was a penalty for us at the end which he didn't give. Maybe he felt a little bit guilty. I think it was the effect of the first goal for us."
Grant's punishment comes at a difficult time for the relegation-threatened club, who languish 18th in the Premier League and face a tough fight to stave off the drop. And in a difficult day for the Hammers, the club will look into claims of racist abuse being directed at the families of Obinna and Piquionne by spectators at Upton Park on Saturday.
Reports emerged this morning that guests of the duo were involved in a confrontation with a small group of supporters after being racially abused while sitting in a box in the Main Stand.
A statement from the club on their official website www.whufc.com read: "West Ham United are investigating the events around Saturday's match against Manchester United after allegations of racist abuse.
"The club takes such matters seriously and, with the Police, is reviewing CCTV footage and gathering witness information. Anyone found responsible will be dealt with appropriately. This is an isolated incident and our supporters, like the club, are proud of the positive relationship with Kick It Out - holding the Racial Equality Standard - and Show Racism the Red Card.
"West Ham United would like to restate the seven-point supporter plan it printed in Saturday's matchday programme and also promoted on its matchday screens around the ground."
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan echoed the club statement, telling the London Evening Standard. "I believe all human beings are equal. We are all born with different physical attributes.
"I happen to be small and I've been the subject for many years of 'heightism' - a word I invented - so I know how people feel when they are subject to this sort of abuse. We will be monitoring CCTV, interviewing stewards and taking strong action against offenders if these allegations are proved to be correct.
"It is particularly sad that the families of our players were so treated."
