Sir Alex Ferguson faces ban over comments made about referee

Originally Posted by red in cumbria

He is still in his Cabinet job.......but the responsibility for this particular matter was handed to Mr Rhyming Slang

He is indeed still in the cabinet, unlike most of his parlimentary party who are still in the closet

Contesting the charge

Originally Posted by djsst

Steven Howard from the Sun.............Note to FA: Ref is the REAL villain.


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EVEN in the heat of battle, Alex Ferguson managed to correct himself.
After watching the hopeless Martin Atkinson get all the big decisions wrong at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Ferguson said: "You want a fair referee - or a strong referee, anyway - and we didn't get that."

Immediately after using the word "fair" - and knowing that would imply Atkinson to be biased - the Manchester United manager promptly took a step back.

We all know what he meant. That, on the night, Atkinson wasn't up to it.

Anyone who saw the game could appreciate that.

Except the gormless FA (who can't help themselves) who have charged Ferguson with improper conduct. And some bloke called Alan Leighton.

Leighton is the national secretary of something called Prospect, a trade union that makes grandiose claims to represent "professionals" - engineers, scientists and other so-called specialists.

And now Premier League referees (who, admittedly, need all the help they can get).

And what did Leighton, largely unknown but aware any criticism of Ferguson would thrust him into the sort of spotlight union reps can usually only dream about, have to say? He pontificated: "Alex Ferguson should explain what he means by fairness. The game only exists on the basis it's fairly moderated.

"Any suggestion a Premier league referee is unable to carry out that job without integrity is damaging the game.

"Sir Alex should apologise. I would call on all managers to be more careful about what they say."

What a load of pedantry and humbug. What use of semantics to back your own case.

I suggest Mr Leighton be more careful himself before opening his own cavernous gob.

Does he know anything about Martin Atkinson?

If he does, he will know that he is backing entirely the wrong man in the battle by both the FA and referees to clip Ferguson's wings.

The most effective referees are those who get on with the job quietly and without having to show they're in charge.

Atkinson, on the other hand, has awarded more penalties and red cards this season than any other referee. And what exact crime has Ferguson actually committed for which he must repent? Oh, yes, he told the truth.

That Atkinson failed to spot crude challenges on two of his players by David Luiz that should have earned the Chelsea defender two bookings and, with them, dismissal.

Even Graham Poll, our former top match official, agreed Atkinson #@&%!ed up.

And that Ferguson should not be charged for things said in the heat of the moment.

Jeff Winter, another ex-ref, claimed Ferguson should have the book thrown at him. And yet even he admitted he would have sent off Luiz.

Winter also took umbrage at Ferguson claiming he feared the worst when he saw Atkinson was down for the game.

Yes, Ferguson is a wily old bird who knows how to influence match officials.

But, who could blame him for his apprehension? Last season, Atkinson as good as cost United the title in the corresponding fixture when awarding Chelsea a dubious free-kick from which John Terry scored the winner. In an FA Cup-tie against Portsmouth in 2008, he denied United a blatant penalty for a foul on Cristiano Ronaldo in a match Pompey won 1-0.

This season he didn't even book Manchester City's Nigel de Jong for a horror tackle that broke Hatem Ben Arfa's leg in a game with Newcastle.

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He then awarded City a penalty that wasn't but failed to award Newcastle one that was.

Chris Hughton, then Geordie boss, said: "Atkinson made two horrendous decisions."

Later, Stoke's Tony Pulis advocated a relegation system for referees after Atkinson missed a handball on the line by Sunderland's Lee Cattermole.

Pulis said: "If he can't see that, what's he doing on a football pitch?"

Neither Pulis nor Hughton was charged by the FA.

Nor was Wigan boss Roberto Martinez for hammering Mark Clattenburg for missing Wayne Rooney's elbow last weekend.

Nor Wigan chairman Dave Whelan for similar comments and another alleging favouritism towards United.

Everton boss David Moyes DID receive an £8,000 fine for improper conduct after a run-in with a referee this season. And who might that have been? Yes, our mate Mart.

Moyes, though, did confront him on the pitch. I trust the FA will bear all this in mind.

Really shocked me that, Howard defending SAF, collectors piece.


Bang on the money btw.

Paddy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RChx5GBwHO4

Originally Posted by HERTS_RED

Paddy

YouTube - Paddy Crerand and Ivan Yates argue about the rooney saga

Jesus £#%&!ing Wept. Ivan Yates? Ivan £#%&!ing Yates? The failed politician and bookmaker. What a @#%&!. Look at him for Christ sake...

My job is to deliver games; the referee's job is to make the right decisions. It is frustrating that the two decisions went against us. They punished us severely, especially the offside that wasn't.

I'm too disgusted to speak about it [the refereeing]. These things can have an impact on the league. Justice has not been done and it's not the first time.

Throw the book at him, etc, etc.

Or not.

Originally Posted by HERTS_RED

Paddy

YouTube - Paddy Crerand and Ivan Yates argue about the rooney saga

love a man who argues his corner. respect big man.

fanny's husband sticking his £#%&!ing oar in now

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/9415946.stm

Originally Posted by taff

fanny's husband sticking his £#%&!ing oar in now

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/9415946.stm

Since when was Clattenburg unable to see the whole incident?? According to the impartial BBC his 'vision of the incident was restricted'

£#%&!ing jokers

Anything else think the ABUism in recent weeks in the media has been as bad as ever? It's become laughable how much they're ignoring real 'facts' and hypocrisys just to try and stop United.

19 will be sweet if we win it. If we do I hope Fergie, when on the pitch after the trophy presentation, dedicates the title to a few people such as Martin Atkinson, the BBC and a few of the Southern journos, and of course, Benitez.

Originally Posted by andyroo

Throw the book at him, etc, etc.

Or not.

He's entitled to express himself just like his young charges are. If we stifle his freedom to speak the truth then we stifle all that is good in the game. Arsene amen.

Originally Posted by MUFC One Love

Anything else think the ABUism in recent weeks in the media has been as bad as ever? It's become laughable how much they're ignoring real 'facts' and hypocrisys just to try and stop United.

19 will be sweet if we win it. If we do I hope Fergie, when on the pitch after the trophy presentation, dedicates the title to a few people such as Martin Atkinson, the BBC and a few of the Southern journos, and of course, Benitez.

Yeah, it's arguably even worse than ever.

The hypocrisy in particular is breathtaking.

They're going really big on these "respect the Ref" quotes from Dalglish...about how him & his players do their best to uphold respect for the sake of the Children etc..
All this off the back of Fergie's post match rant about Chelsea's soft Pen on Tuesday night.
...Funny that because I remember our "soft Penalty" that put them out of the FA Cup...which led to one of their players posting pic on Twitter of the Ref in a United shirt & Dalglish trotting out every cliché in the book about never getting decisions at Old Trafford & how the Ref was influenced by the United players etc...blah, blah, blah

I put 5Live on in the kitchen this morning. An interview with Carragher.
Just caught the end of it where he was eulogising about Giggsy for some reason.
Anyway, after the interview one of the Journo's in the Studio said (for no particular reason) that "all the neutrals up & down the land today will be hoping Carragher & Liverpool can beat United & help Arsenal back into the Title race"

I see 'King Kenny' had a moan about the refs without a hint of media outrage. Two city players get away with swearing on telly too.

I'm shocked by this