Ferguson set for trial by TV over referee rant
March 3rd, 2011 - 4:26 pm ICT by ANI
London, Mar 3 (ANI): Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson faces ‘trial by TV’ after the FA demanded to see film footage of his Stamford Bridge rant against referee Martin Atkinson.
A furious Ferguson lashed out after Chelsea’s Frank Lampard’s late penalty shot downed United and blew the Premier League title race wide open again.
Ferguson claimed Atkinson should have sent off Blues’ goal hero David Luiz for clattering England striker Wayne Rooney. Nemanja Vidic was red-carded in injury time.
FA chiefs have until 4 p.m. on Friday to decide whether to hit Ferguson with an improper conduct charge for questioning Atkinson’s strength and fairness after United controversially lost 2-1 at Chelsea on Tuesday night, The Sun reports.
The referees union has also demanded public apology from the United boss or he should come clean on why he thinks Atkinson is incompetent.
Ferguson already has a suspended two-match touchline ban hanging over him from blasting referee Alan Wiley in October 2009 and labelling him unfit.
Alan Leighton, national secretary of referees body Prospect, said: “Alex Ferguson should come out and clarify exactly what he meant with his comments. I dread to think any manager seriously believes in the cold light of day that any referee is unfair or biased.
“That is an attack on the very fabric of the game. He should explain what he means or else it would be very helpful if he were to apologise for any implication that Martin Atkinson is unfair or biased.” (ANI)
- Fergie facing FA rap following diatribe against referee - Mar 02, 2011
- Ferguson 'spitting mad' after getting five-match touchline ban - Mar 17, 2011
- Ferguson to reconsider Rooney's midfield role - Mar 18, 2011
- Fergie becomes UK Referees Association Life President - Apr 01, 2011
- Ferguson furious as Chelsea's Luiz escapes red card for Rooney foul - Mar 02, 2011
- Rooney ban: Fergie claims Man U is the victim - Apr 09, 2011
- Ferguson hopeful of avoiding a touchline ban over verbal attack on Wiley - Oct 20, 2009
- Ferguson charged for his comments about Wiley - Oct 19, 2009
- Ferguson escapes FA action over verbal attack on referee - Jan 05, 2010
- Premier League to crackdown on unacceptable" behaviour towards referees - Apr 01, 2011
- Fergie banned for two matches for his comments on referee Wiley - Nov 13, 2009
- Fergie-referee row could now head for court - Oct 11, 2009
- Football Association warns Rooney about his future conduct - Nov 10, 2009
- FA should banish Fergie for good, says referee union official - Oct 07, 2009
- Ferguson's apology a fresh start of our fightback: Referees' chief - Oct 16, 2009
Tags: alan wiley, alex ferguson, coach alex, cold light of day, david luiz, film footage, frank lampard, goal hero, improper conduct, injury time, leighton, manchester united, martin atkinson, national secretary, nemanja vidic, public apology, referee, referees, stamford bridge, wayne rooney