Roberto Martínez accuses the FA of being intimidated by Sir Alex Ferguson

Sid Lowe in Madrid
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 27 October 2009 21.23 GMT


Roberto Martínez has accused the English football authorities of being intimidated by Sir Alex Ferguson, saying that the Scot is treated differently to other managers in the game. The Wigan Athletic manager insisted that his Manchester United counterpart is allowed to get away with more than his Premier League rivals, who would be "crushed" for committing the same crimes, and is protected by a cabal of coaches who court his favour.

Ferguson has admitted a charge of improper conduct over remarks he made about the referee Alan Wiley following this month's 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford. He has apologised for causing Wiley "personal embarrassment" by questioning his fitness and there have been calls for him to be handed a lengthy touchline ban. He also courted controversy over his suggestion that Andre Marriner lacked the experience to referee Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. But Martínez expressed doubts that the punishment handed down will be as severe as that meted out to other coaches, as there is little appetite for taking Ferguson to task.

"They have just sanctioned Ferguson for saying that referee was not fit enough and the truth is that they're almost apologising to him for punishing him," Martínez said. "Any other coach would have been crushed for that." Asked if Ferguson dictates English football, Martínez told the Spanish paper AS: "Yes, a lot." He added: "Ferguson has been here for a lifetime and that carries a lot of weight."

Martínez believes that Ferguson's position is strengthened by a group of disciples whom the Scot cultivates as loyal allies against his enemies such as the Liverpool coach, Rafael Benítez. There was a hint, too, that Martínez suspects Ferguson dangles the carrot of Old Trafford succession before the eyes of those loyal to him.

In April Ferguson attacked Benítez for having previously described David Moyes's Everton as a "small club" and for showing "contempt" for opponents with a gesture he made on the touchline during a 4-0 victory over Sam Allardyce's Blackburn Rovers. Allardyce complained Benítez's gesture was humiliating – but only after Ferguson spoke out. He made no comment after the game about a signal Benítez said was a self-deprecating one to his own team.

Allardyce and Moyes are close friends of Ferguson. Moyes has been widely touted as a candidate for Ferguson's job when he retires while Martínez believes Allardyce has designs on the post, too. "Ferguson has his group of faithfuls, people who are committed to him: Steve Bruce, who was a player with him, Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford, and others," Martínez said. "On the other side there's Rafa Benítez and he gets attacked from all sides."

The Football Association is being urged to commit Ferguson to an official agreement that he will curtail his criticism of referees. Ferguson has requested a personal hearing at which he will apologise again for accusing Wiley of booking players because he needed a rest from running but Alan Leighton, the national secretary of the trade union Prospect, of which referees are members, wants the FA to make an example of Ferguson.

"We welcome the fact that he [Ferguson] has admitted his guilt and hope he will now dedicate himself to furthering the Respect agenda," said Leighton. "If I was someone on the [FA disciplinary] panel I might be asking him for a commitment not to do the same thing again."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...-alex-ferguson

Hope they charge him for bringing the game into disrepute

He should keep his £#%&!ing nose out of our business. Who the £#%&! does he think he is? Some kind of footballing superhero no doubt. Tackling unfairness wherever he sees it.

I've just noticed that Sam Allardyce is apparently interested in replacing Fergie. If Allardyce is appointed, I'll pay half his wages.


@#%&!.

Time of the month :£#%&!er:

what the £#%&! has it got to do with him?

Don't worry, when Dave Whelan finds out, Martinez will have to write a 4 page apology in their next programme

Originally Posted by Sparky***

what the £#%&! has it got to do with him?

Exactly. And who the £#%&! is he anyway?

who the £#%&! is this @#%&!....he wants to keep his £#%&!ing mouth shut...the £#%&!ing no mark

been in the premiership 5 minutes and thinks he knows it all. his opinion is equivalent to that of some know-nothing dick-wad in a pub somewhere.

Originally Posted by taff

been in the premiership 5 minutes and thinks he knows it all. his opinion is equivalent to that of some know-nothing dick-wad in a pub somewhere.

That reminded me of Fergie's rant at Wenger when he first arrived. "he's been here 2 minutes and has managed in what, Japan?"

Originally Posted by £#%&! KFC

who the £#%&! is this @#%&!....he wants to keep his £#%&!ing mouth shut...the £#%&!ing no mark

Bang on.

Stupid £#%&!ing @#%&! is only in the premiershio because he played for Wigan once upon a time. He wants to concentrate more on his shit greasy hair than the greatest manager ever. @#%&!

ALEX FERGUSON has been accused of leading a group of Premier League bosses who gang up against Rafa Benitez.

The amazing claim was made last night by Wigan manager Roberto Martinez.
He also insisted the FA are terrified of Fergie's power over the Premier League.
Martinez said: "Ferguson has his group of loyalists among other coaches - Steve Bruce, his ex-player, and Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor, among others.
"On the other hand, there is only Benitez and they throw sticks at him from all sides."
Liverpool chief Benitez caused a storm last season by accusing Manchester United boss Ferguson of having too much power and getting away with too much with the FA.
And Martinez reckons fellow Spaniard Benitez' criticism was spot-on.
Fergie is currently sweating over an FA hearing into comments he made accusing ref Alan Wiley of not being fit enough.
Asked if he reckons Fergie DOES have too much power, Martinez added: "Yes, a lot.
"The FA have charged him for saying a referee was not physically up to scratch.
"The reality is they have almost begged his forgiveness for doing so. Anyone else, they'd have crushed."

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0VCAZgRKG

What a £#%&!er, who cares what the soon to be sacked #@&%! sucker thinks?

Has Steve Bruce ever had a public go at Rafa?

The idea that Benitez is some sort of helpless kid being bullied on the playground is laughable. Apparently he never has a kind word to say to any of his players and is universally thought of as a cold, calculating bastard.

I wonder if Martinez is just angling for Rafa's job when he £#%&!s off back to Spain.

Allardyce taking over from Fergie

Scouse @#%&! being portrayed as a victim shocker! The £#%&!ing fat pig. He'll be wallowing in it.

This is great ammo for Fergie, refs association are against him, FA are on his arse, this £#%&!ing nobody will create a shit storm out of nothing, team is being written off, great stuff for building up that famous siege mentality at Utd.

He's right of course...

But he's just dug his own grave!

I honestly think Dave Whelan will sack him for that.

Maybe why Rafa turns to food

Originally Posted by Withers

I honestly think Dave Whelan will sack him for that.

You might be right there - just been on SSN, Martinez has denied everything and referred it to the LMA.

I expect we'll get a 'misquoted' statement from Martinez soon. He strikes me as a good guy and such comments seem out of character. Take that one with a pinch of sodium.

This Fergie criticism of....um....Fergie criticism is starting to get ridiculous. He can't say anything about officials without going 'too far' or 'bullying' refs and 'disrepecting' the respect campaign etc.

Fact is, all £#%&!ing managers whine about refs all the £#%&!ing time. I didn't think Fergie's comments about Whiley were all that bad. They were odd, more than anything else, but hardly the most offensive thing a manager has ever said. Former refs and people seem to have taken the comments REALLY personally. Some people were labelling it the worst criticism of a ref in years.

Get a grip, people!

How many times do you hear managers saying the a particular ref isn't good enough to ref at highest level etc? Fergie just pinpointed one particular aspect of Whiley's make-up.

He then apologises.....and that's not good enough! He stands by his conviction that English refs aren't fit enough: A perfectly valid opinion, even if you don't agree with it, but apologises to Whiley. Apparently that's more insulting!? How? He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

His comments on Sunday were all perfectly fair too. He was disappointed with some ref decisions (again, as EVERY manager is after EVERY game), but admitted Liverpool deserved to win and was disappointed with his player's performances. The headlines? FERGIE BLAMES REF AGAIN! He did no such thing.

Obviously I know a lot of it is media spin (it sells papers etc), but when the authorities and other managers start to buy into it, then it's out of order.

I suspect he thought that Gary Neville's red card was harsh last night (I did), but knew damn well that he couldn't say a word against the ref given the current climate.

It's gay, is what it is.