Avram Grant, the Chelsea manager, has risked censure by the Football Association after questioning the integrity of Steve Bennett and Mike Dean, the Premier League referees.

Bennett was in charge of Manchester United’s last match of the season at Wigan Athletic on Sunday where goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs clinched a tenth Premier League title for Sir Alex Ferguson.

The official, though, was criticised in some quarters for failing to award Wigan a penalty and then opting not to show Paul Scholes, the midfielder, a second yellow card for a foul on Wilson Palacios.

Although the Chelsea manager continued to congratulate United on their title success, he called Bennett’s performance into question and said he was happy no English referee would be in charge of next week’s Champions League final against Ferguson’s side.

“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,” said Grant. “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.

“In England there are very good referees, but there are some - a few that you can influence, like you saw. 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 John Obi Mikel 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.”

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’.”

Grant, meanwhile, still finds it strange his future at the club is called into question despite leading Chelsea to the first Champions League final in their history. The 52-year-old Israeli insists he will be in charge at the start of next season but refused to talk about the futures of striker Didier Drogba or Frank Lampard, the England midfielder.

“I find it strange [the debate over his future] because I have a contract for four years, even though it is a contract between friends [owner Roman Abramovich], we don’t involve friendship in our business.

“It is a contract as a manager. I have a contract for four years, I don’t think they need to come to me every two weeks and say that I can continue, I can continue, I can continue, etc.

“If I had a contract for one year then it would be okay. It doesn’t bother me. It happens in football, sometimes the coach doesn’t like the team, sometimes the team doesn’t like the coach. Maybe they should tell me every two weeks that I should continue.”