HongKongBluey
Well-Known Member
"The Football Association have made it clear that they will investigate the critical comments made by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after his team's fortuitous home draw against Sunderland on Saturday, according to Sky Sports News.
Ferguson slated the performance of match referee Alan Wiley, accusing the official of being unfit and saying that because Wiley couldn't keep up with the pace of the game, he missed crucial decisions.
Sky Sports also report that Ferguson could be reprimanded for his touchline conduct after arguing with fourth official Mike Dean in the second-half following a series of decisions with which the United boss apparently disagreed.
One interpretation of Fergie's behaviour is that he was attempting to deflect attention away from his team's below-par performance.
United were rescued from ignominious defeat only by a strike from Patrice Evra - which took a decisive deflection off Anton Ferdinand - deep into injury-time. The own goal gave United a point against an impressive Sunderland side.
However, the 2-2 draw meant United were overtaken at the top of the Premier League by Chelsea, who beat Liverpool 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Ferguson was warned about his conduct last season after criticising referee Martin Atkinson for failing to give United a penalty in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Portsmouth.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that all Premier League referees are now continually monitored with rigorous fitness tests not only before the season but also every day of the week during the campaign. Gallagher said they are training to an intensity that he himself would not have been able to match when he was reffing.
And he added that Wiley is the most competitive person he has ever met, one of the fittest referees, and that he (Wiley) had been deeply upset by Ferguson's remarks, which were a slight on his professionalism and a blow to his pride.
Gallagher also said Ferguson's comments could not possibly be substantiated, and stressed that such public criticism by managers of referees did nothing to help relations between clubs and officials."
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/10/05/1542177/fa-to-investigate-alex-fergusons-comments-after-manchester" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2 ... manchester</a>
another story from sky sports news too : <a class="postlink" href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5608784,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 84,00.html</a>
But we all know nothing is actually going to happen...
Ferguson slated the performance of match referee Alan Wiley, accusing the official of being unfit and saying that because Wiley couldn't keep up with the pace of the game, he missed crucial decisions.
Sky Sports also report that Ferguson could be reprimanded for his touchline conduct after arguing with fourth official Mike Dean in the second-half following a series of decisions with which the United boss apparently disagreed.
One interpretation of Fergie's behaviour is that he was attempting to deflect attention away from his team's below-par performance.
United were rescued from ignominious defeat only by a strike from Patrice Evra - which took a decisive deflection off Anton Ferdinand - deep into injury-time. The own goal gave United a point against an impressive Sunderland side.
However, the 2-2 draw meant United were overtaken at the top of the Premier League by Chelsea, who beat Liverpool 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Ferguson was warned about his conduct last season after criticising referee Martin Atkinson for failing to give United a penalty in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Portsmouth.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that all Premier League referees are now continually monitored with rigorous fitness tests not only before the season but also every day of the week during the campaign. Gallagher said they are training to an intensity that he himself would not have been able to match when he was reffing.
And he added that Wiley is the most competitive person he has ever met, one of the fittest referees, and that he (Wiley) had been deeply upset by Ferguson's remarks, which were a slight on his professionalism and a blow to his pride.
Gallagher also said Ferguson's comments could not possibly be substantiated, and stressed that such public criticism by managers of referees did nothing to help relations between clubs and officials."
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/10/05/1542177/fa-to-investigate-alex-fergusons-comments-after-manchester" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2 ... manchester</a>
another story from sky sports news too : <a class="postlink" href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5608784,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 84,00.html</a>
But we all know nothing is actually going to happen...