View Full Version : Jeff Winter Calls Fergie a Bully
I always thought Winter was a bit of a twat, but at least he has the balls to call this one:
Jeff Winter has described Sir Alex Ferguson as "a bully" and "a coward" for his attack on Alan Wiley. Following United's 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland on Saturday Ferguson claimed that the 49-year-old Wiley was "unfit". Winter, a retired Premier League referee, believes it was an unforgivable slight on his former colleague and predicts a backlash from referees assigned to officiate at Old Trafford.
"I think Sir Alex may have overstepped the line this time and he may be about to get his comeuppance," he said. "I think referees will be so incensed about this that Sir Alex may find that United no longer get the benefit of the doubt on certain decisions."
Winter believes the criticism of Wiley was designed to deflect attention from United's poor performance but that it will have long-term consequences for the rest of the referee's career. "It was a cowardly attack – Sir Alex wouldn't have said it to Alan Wiley's face," said Winter.
"Every game Alan Wiley takes charge of now where he makes a decision which upsets some fans is going to result in chants of 'You're not fit to referee', he's going to be known as the 'unfit ref'. Sir Alex won't care though. He's a knight of the realm and he thinks he's untouchable, bullet proof.
"But he's also a bully. He spoke at Sir Bobby Robson's memorial service a couple of weeks ago and said he'd learnt a lot from Sir Bobby. But he hadn't, they were totally different, Sir Bobby was a gentleman. He was humble and had respect for people."
Winter feels Ferguson neglected to extend Wiley a proper duty of care. "Alan Wiley had not contributed in any shape or form to United only drawing and he cannot fight back. It won't happen but, if I was Alan, I'd be tempted to sue Sir Alex."
Winter says he is "not a friend" of Wiley's but had considerable respect for him as a colleague. "I've trained with the guy and I know just how fit and professional he is," he said. "He's 49 now but he's still extremely fit. If he wasn't he wouldn't be getting a game, simple as that. Referees don't just have an annual fitness test which is pretty tough but they are continually assessed and re-assessed." All referees have ptis (personal training instructors) looking after them. Anyone not up to standard is dropped".
The prospect of the Football Association charging Ferguson with disrepute does nothing to assuage Winter's anger. "What difference will it make?" he said. "What can they do to him give him a touchline ban and fine him. Fines don't hurt multi-millionaires."
Adverse refereeing decisions might though. "Human nature's a funny thing," mused Winter. "Sir Alex might just find a few refereeing decisions going against him."
Manchester United declined to comment tonight.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/05/sir-alrx-ferguson-referees-jeff-winter
He's being too nice.......cunt would be more apt
I always thought Winter was a bit of a twat, but at least he has the balls to call this one:
Jeff Winter has described Sir Alex Ferguson as "a bully" and "a coward" for his attack on Alan Wiley. Following United's 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland on Saturday Ferguson claimed that the 49-year-old Wiley was "unfit". Winter, a retired Premier League referee, believes it was an unforgivable slight on his former colleague and predicts a backlash from referees assigned to officiate at Old Trafford.
"I think Sir Alex may have overstepped the line this time and he may be about to get his comeuppance," he said. "I think referees will be so incensed about this that Sir Alex may find that United no longer get the benefit of the doubt on certain decisions."
Winter believes the criticism of Wiley was designed to deflect attention from United's poor performance but that it will have long-term consequences for the rest of the referee's career. "It was a cowardly attack – Sir Alex wouldn't have said it to Alan Wiley's face," said Winter.
"Every game Alan Wiley takes charge of now where he makes a decision which upsets some fans is going to result in chants of 'You're not fit to referee', he's going to be known as the 'unfit ref'. Sir Alex won't care though. He's a knight of the realm and he thinks he's untouchable, bullet proof.
[B]"But he's also a bully. He spoke at Sir Bobby Robson's memorial service a couple of weeks ago and said he'd learnt a lot from Sir Bobby. But he hadn't, they were totally different, Sir Bobby was a gentleman. He was humble and had respect for people."
Winter feels Ferguson neglected to extend Wiley a proper duty of care. "Alan Wiley had not contributed in any shape or form to United only drawing and he cannot fight back. It won't happen but, if I was Alan, I'd be tempted to sue Sir Alex."
Winter says he is "not a friend" of Wiley's but had considerable respect for him as a colleague. "I've trained with the guy and I know just how fit and professional he is," he said. "He's 49 now but he's still extremely fit. If he wasn't he wouldn't be getting a game, simple as that. Referees don't just have an annual fitness test which is pretty tough but they are continually assessed and re-assessed." All referees have ptis (personal training instructors) looking after them. Anyone not up to standard is dropped".
The prospect of the Football Association charging Ferguson with disrepute does nothing to assuage Winter's anger. "What difference will it make?" he said. "What can they do to him give him a touchline ban and fine him. Fines don't hurt multi-millionaires."
Adverse refereeing decisions might though. "Human nature's a funny thing," mused Winter. "Sir Alex might just find a few refereeing decisions going against him."
Manchester United declined to comment tonight.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/05/sir-alrx-ferguson-referees-jeff-winter
Spot on that bit in bold.
"Sir Alex" has to get done for this one.
Craig_H
06-10-09, 10:12 AM
Winter's right. But he's also right when he says that nothing the authorities are likely to do, will bother ferguson.
Spot on that bit in bold.
"Sir Alex" has to get done for this one.
:handshake: The amount of people withiin the media who are afraid to call Ferguson out for this kind of behaviour is unbelievable. I think they are scared of him and scared he will cut off contact with them. He does this sort of thing time and time again yet as he is the great 'Sir' Alex he gets away with it.
:handshake: The amount of people withiin the media who are afraid to call Ferguson out for this kind of behaviour is unbelievable. I think they are scared of him and scared he will cut off contact with them. He does this sort of thing time and time again yet as he is the great 'Sir' Alex he gets away with it.
Yet when Rafa points this out he is simply cracking up and having a rant :D
Yet when Rafa points this out he is simply cracking up and having a rant :D
:handshake: Exactly.
I suppose as Ferguson has won so many titles he gets a bye ball, but his managerial record should not excuse his behaviour.
:handshake: Exactly.
I suppose as Ferguson has won so many titles he gets a bye ball, but his managerial record should not excuse his behaviour.
Yep. Football biases aside, he really doesn't seem like a nice person at all, and I have no time for him.
Sir Bobby Robson :respect: :respect:
Interesting that, and of course we know its is true. Stan Collymore was on Talksport last night and said that Fergie was not in the same league as Paisley, Shankly, Busby and the other greats because of this side of his character.... he said he has no class IIRC.
Fergie is a bully and has no grace - a dispicable old hypocritical senile cunt is how I will remember him.
Interesting that, and of course we know its is true. Stan Collymore was on Talksport last night and said that Fergie was not in the same league as Paisley, Shankly, Busby and the other greats because of this side of his character.... he said he has no class IIRC.
Didn't hear that from Collymore. However, I know this will be an unpopular opinion but I think he talks a lot of sense and I enjoy listening to him.
FatTony
06-10-09, 10:29 AM
Well said Winter.
Craig_H
06-10-09, 10:29 AM
Thing with ferguson, is that when he wins or when things happen the way he wants them, he can be one of the nicest people - but it's all fake, because people's true colours come out when things arent going their way.
It's a bit like drogba, he can shake a rival's hand and swaps shirts etc when he wins - but when things go against him, you see the real drogba, as we saw after the barcelona game last season. Ferguson's the same. Cunt.
It's easy to be nice when everything's going perfectly for you.
Watching sky sports paper review yesterday morning (Monday) the presenter asked the reviewer (Paul McCarthy) why the tabloids & broad sheets hadn't reported what gin soak had said in more detail & as a top story.
His reply was basically that it had been reported on Sunday, so it wasn't a news story !!!! What a crock of shit, when Rafa makes waves it is reported for day's after.
i cant wait for the purple nosed cunt to die personally.
i cant wait for the purple nosed cunt to die personally.
:haha:
Thing with ferguson, is that when he wins or when things happen the way he wants them, he can be one of the nicest people - but it's all fake, because people's true colours come out when things arent going their way.
It's a bit like drogba, he can shake a rival's hand and swaps shirts etc when he wins - but when things go against him, you see the real drogba, as we saw after the barcelona game last season. Ferguson's the same. Cunt.
It's easy to be nice when everything's going perfectly for you.
:handshake: Mourinho is a classic example of this also, but generally is a cunt most of the time.
TheElephantMan
06-10-09, 12:41 PM
"I think Sir Alex may have overstepped the line this time and he may be about to get his comeuppance," he said. "I think referees will be so incensed about this that Sir Alex may find that United no longer get the benefit of the doubt on certain decisions."
I love the word 'comeuppance'. We should hate Ferguson because he's the manager of our closest rivals, but we actually hate him more because he's a twat. Since Rafa stood up to him other people are starting to express their true feelings about purple nose and hopefully it will translate into lost points when referees are no longer fearful of making correct decisions at Old Trafford.
Well done Jeff Winter.
Funny thing is that Wiley was the 4th official standing having a laugh with Fergie at the derby
AF = FA
Nothing will happen...
"I think referees will be so incensed about this that Sir Alex may find that United no longer get the benefit of the doubt on certain decisions."
What, Man Utd matches might actually be reffed fairly now? And here's an ex ref admitting so. Incredible, and he's not the first to admit they get favours.
Why on earth is this never looked into?
badpiggy
06-10-09, 01:08 PM
was rafa the first one to really publicly draw attention to ferguson's cuntishness? assuming that it was, fair play to rafa.
i heard graham hunter say a while back that when liverpool won the champion's league in 2005, ferguson sent a very complimentary letter of congratulations to rafa and that rafa didn't reply as he viewed ferguson as the man to be toppled and that he began his whole getting-under-ferguson's-skin approach that far back. apparently ferguson was absolutely livid at this snub :haha:
Scratch
06-10-09, 03:51 PM
What, Man Utd matches might actually be reffed fairly now? And here's an ex ref admitting so. Incredible, and he's not the first to admit they get favours.
Why on earth is this never looked into?
I'm pretty certain that refs do, on general, give the 50/50 decisions more to the bigger teams, even more so at home, it's just a common thing...however, if this insult to the refs forces that trend to be changed at OT alone, then i reckon AF should just keep on talking and alienating folk.
Craig_H
06-10-09, 04:12 PM
Ferguson goes on the attack over lack of discipline
Chelsea players ridiculous says United manager
Grant hits back over Mikel sending off at Old Trafford
* Daniel Taylor and David Hytner
* The Guardian, Saturday 22 March 2008
Ashley Cole protests to Mike Riley
The behaviour of Ashley Cole and his Chelsea team-mates has been the subject of criticism from Sir Alex Ferguson.
A war of words broke out between Chelsea and Manchester United last night after Sir Alex Ferguson expressed distaste about the behaviour of Ashley Cole and his team-mates during their draw at Tottenham on Wednesday. "I think the haranguing of referees we have seen is absolutely ridiculous," said the United manager.
Avram Grant responded by complaining about the dismissal of the midfielder Mikel John Obi at Old Trafford last September, in his first game in charge. He believes the referee, Mike Dean, was pressured into the decision by a clutch of protesting United players. Mikel was sent off for a challenge on Patrice Evra, and Chelsea were subsequently punished for surrounding Dean as they complained, with John Terry, the captain, attempting to snatch the red card from Dean's hand.
"Against Manchester United, their players ran to the referee before us," said Grant. "Maybe they are quicker, I don't know. The red card we got against Manchester United was not only to do with the decision of the referee."
Ferguson spoke out after another week in which the conduct of Chelsea's players has come under scrutiny, culminating in Ashley Cole, who faces his old club Arsenal tomorrow, issuing an apology for disrespect shown towards the referee, Mike Riley, during the draw at Tottenham.
The United manager, whose team face Liverpool tomorrow before Chelsea play Arsenal, is still aggrieved by Arsenal's behaviour when they lost 4-0 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. He said he would never tolerate his players acting like the London clubs'. "We had a pivotal moment some years ago when our players surrounded Andy D'Urso," he said, referring to the incident in January 2000 when the referee gave a penalty to Middlesbrough at Old Trafford. "I went off my head with them about that, I thought it was ridiculous and it never happened again.
"We tell our players to shake the hand of the referee at the end of the game. Sometimes it's difficult but they have to do it. In the same way that, if we lose a game, we still make sure we invite the opposing manager into my office for a drink afterwards. We do it because we think it's important, because life goes on."
Ferguson is leaving himself open to accusations of double standards given that the Football Association is preparing a case against him, and his assistant, Carlos Queiroz, for their criticisms of Martin Atkinson after the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Portsmouth two weeks ago.
Repeat offending has cost Chelsea £190,000 in fines and the Cole incident came a day after the FA's chairman, Lord Triesman, appealed for players to set an example. "We have been talking about respect for referees and it going down to grassroots level, and that's something I think is absolutely correct," said Ferguson, who has noted a trend of referees trying to "man-manage" offenders. "The way refereeing has changed has maybe helped the situation. On the other hand, maybe it has encouraged those players to do it even more, because the referee is unable to manage with so many players around him. "
Grant also took a swipe at the Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Eboué yesterday, to illustrate his view that Cole did not deserve the vilification that has followed him since his tackle on Alan Hutton. The Ivorian left his studs in on the Chelsea captain, John Terry, when the teams met at the Emirates Stadium in December. Terry suffered three broken bones in his foot and was ruled out for two months. Eboué escaped without mass condemnation.
"I always take the point of taking responsibility," said Grant, promoting Cole's apology to both Hutton and Riley. "Another player at Arsenal whose name I will not say, tackled our captain, who went to hospital and was out for two months and he did not apologise. We are still waiting for that. Other players have made worse tackles and not been red-carded."
Two faced, hypocrite cunt alert.
So Adrian Durham is trying to defend Fergie on TalkSport, and just said - "We don't give Fergie enough respect in this country" :haha:
So Adrian Durham is trying to defend Fergie on TalkSport, and just said - "We don't give Fergie enough respect in this country" :haha:
Cunt defends cunt.
Craig_H
06-10-09, 05:50 PM
Durham's just an attention seeking WUM who does a great job of making people want to ring up.
Leyton388
06-10-09, 06:52 PM
Durham just does it to get the ratings. He is a cock. He was defending fans who rip up seats last week after the city v arsenal game saying it is just passion. The guy is a cock and enough reason to not listen to talksport. I remember when he called Carra a bottler and carra got on the line and called him out. Was funny as fuck!
Craig_H
06-10-09, 06:53 PM
That was beyond Durham's wildest dreams though. He does it to get callers, and he got Carragher himself.
Ben_Itez
06-10-09, 09:53 PM
I remember reading excerpts from Ferguson's speech at Bobby Robson's memorial service and nearly vomited over my keyboard. All he did was talk about himself and what he'd learned from Sir Bobby. He's not fit to wipe Sir Bobby's arse.
Hopefully this latest example of sore losing and bitterness will make people realise what he's really like. Ever since Rafa's rant i've noticed people's perceptions of Ferguson change. What with 'Fergie' time and his repeated acts of sore losing the media seems to be finally breaking free of their Fergie shackles and calling it like it is, long may it continue. Hopefully the refs have woken up to him too and this latest episode could really backfire on him.
So Adrian Durham is trying to defend Fergie on TalkSport, and just said - "We don't give Fergie enough respect in this country" :haha:
Durham's just an attention seeking WUM who does a great job of making people want to ring up.
Fair play to Durham.......i listened to that tonight and you almost here it in is voice, he knows he is just arguing for arguing sakes half the time!!
he just does it for a rise, fair play it works!! :)
The Manchester Evening news has called him out today - I was gobsmacked
focusedonfootball
07-10-09, 01:49 PM
The prospect of the Football Association charging Ferguson with disrepute does nothing to assuage Winter's anger. "What difference will it make?" he said. "What can they do to him give him a touchline ban and fine him. Fines don't hurt multi-millionaires."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/05/sir-alrx-ferguson-referees-jeff-winter
And why exactly are the FA dragging their feet? So far they've asked him to explain his comments. I seem to remember they charged Rafa within days of the Tottenham match.
Craig_H
07-10-09, 02:48 PM
And why exactly are the FA dragging their feet? So far they've asked him to explain his comments. I seem to remember they charged Rafa within days of the Tottenham match.
Your memory isnt your best asset then. The Spurs game was on 16th August, Rafa's charge was announced on 1st September.
Your googling isnt your best asset then. The Spurs game was on 16th August, Rafa's charge was announced on 1st September.
:handshake: :crackoff:
The Manchester Evening news has called him out today - I was gobsmacked
Is that the mock-up open letter? Apparently that lad became a ref 2 or 3 years ago and Ferguson's bile touched a nerve. :haha:
Is that the mock-up open letter? Apparently that lad became a ref 2 or 3 years ago and Ferguson's bile touched a nerve. :haha:
Aye, mind you he's a city fan
Not being a close personal friend of Sir Alex Ferguson, it is always an interesting experience to talk to those people who are; to hear their long and impassioned explanations of why the world has got him wrong.
Oh, the humanity of the man. The emotional intelligence. The countless acts of personal kindness. He hates the Tories! Surely, there is something to like about a rich and powerful man who has no time for the party of wealth and privilege? Surely there is something to admire in the fact that the most revered figure in the English game has never lost touch with his roots, making frequent, unpublicised journeys north to visit the Glasgow youth football club that nurtured him as a boy?
Well there certainly is, but if Ferguson's friends have no problem in separating the private person from the public figure, those who live outside the enchanted circle are not so lucky. They can only judge him by what he decides to reveal of himself and his thoughts, which brings us to the furore over his comments about Alan Wiley – the referee who had the audacity not to add sufficient injury time to Saturday's match at Old Trafford to accommodate United's desire to nick a 3-2 victory from the jaws of a 2-2 disappointment.
"I was disappointed with the referee," Ferguson said. "He [Wiley] was not fit enough for a game of that standard. The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butchers' dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn't fit. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous."
As numerous commentators have pointed out over the past few days, this was classic Ferguson stuff – more of an act than anything else. His team had just been outfought and outplayed by a surprisingly strong Sunderland and rather than have that be the focus of the post-match discussions he chose instead to cause a rumpus about the referee. I believe the technical term is "diversionary tactic".
Having identified the United manager's motivation, many of the same commentators then decided to move on without considering the consequences of his actions, which are not insignificant. Thank heavens then for Johnny Giles, who, in an excellent column in Dublin's Evening Herald newspaper, pointed out that Ferguson's attack on Wiley was an attack on football itself. "Every time Ferguson lacerates a match official, he puts in a marker for the future and it seems to pay off. The minutes stretch to infinity at Old Trafford," Giles wrote.
He's right, of course. Every time Ferguson opens his mouth in such a fashion, hoping to gain an unfair advantage, he is damaging the game. That is bad enough, but of more serious interest – or at least it should be to Ferguson's friends – is the impact his words will have had on Wiley, who until now has lived a fairy innocuous professional life (at least by modern standards of refereeing controversies).
Now Wiley find himself to be the centre of attention. He's a referee, so presumably he should be able to withstand the scrutiny. But others in the same position have not, most infamously Anders Frisk, who retired from the game after being unfairly maligned – to put it mildly – by José Mourinho.
For Frisk, the tipping point was the death threats from fans and the sense that he would never again officiate a match without his integrity being questioned. Mercifully, Wiley hasn't been threatened by anyone, although his professional reputation has been questioned, and will be from now on. For this he has the first knight of football to thank: Sir Alex Ferguson, the man who thinks nothing of trying to ruin another man's career in the noble cause of not having people point out that his goalkeeper is hopeless.
So much for being humane and kind. So much for Fergie's friends, who cannot tell the difference between loyalty and sycophancy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/oct/08/sir-alex-ferguson-alan-wiley
Prick.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8300554.stm
Sir Alex Ferguson has apologised to referee Alan Wiley for any embarrassment caused by comments the Manchester United boss made about him.
The Scot criticised Wiley's fitness levels after United's 2-2 draw against Sunderland on 3 October.
"I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused," Ferguson said in a statement on the club's website.
"I intend to contact him personally after I return from a trip overseas."
More to follow.
What an absolutely massive cunt...
In a statement issued on the club's official website, Ferguson said: "I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views.
"In retrospect, I accept that this could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate forum.
"It was never my intention to bring the focus of intense media attention on Mr Wiley. I intend to contact him personally after I return from a trip overseas during this international break.
"I would wish it to be noted that I have always respected Mr Wiley's integrity and that I did not state or imply:
:: that Mr Wiley is a bad referee;
:: that he was in any way biased;
:: that decision-making generally during the game was poor, or
:: that he missed any key incident during the game.
"My only intention in speaking publicly, was to highlight what I believe to be a serious and important issue in the game, namely that the fitness levels of referees must match the ever increasing demands of the modern game, which I hope will now be properly addressed through the appropriate formal channels."
Prick.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8300554.stm
Sir Alex Ferguson has apologised to referee Alan Wiley for any embarrassment caused by comments the Manchester United boss made about him.
The Scot criticised Wiley's fitness levels after United's 2-2 draw against Sunderland on 3 October.
"I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused," Ferguson said in a statement on the club's website.
"I intend to contact him personally after I return from a trip overseas."
More to follow.
and on SSN:
..... but stands by his comments that refs are not fit enough.
Is that an apology?
Vermilion
10-10-09, 12:35 PM
Glad he stands by his remarks, wouldn't want any bad blood caused by this between referees and Fergie to be solved by an apology.
Historyrepeatsitself
10-10-09, 01:29 PM
He is an absolute cnut.
think everyone on here from now on who calls him "sir" should be banned for life.
Ben_Itez
10-10-09, 05:22 PM
In a statement issued on the club's official website, Ferguson said: "I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views.
"In retrospect, I accept that this could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate forum.
"It was never my intention to bring the focus of intense media attention on Mr Wiley. I intend to contact him personally after I return from a trip overseas during this international break.
"I would wish it to be noted that I have always respected Mr Wiley's integrity and that I did not state or imply:
:: that Mr Wiley is a bad referee;
:: that he was in any way biased;
:: that decision-making generally during the game was poor, or
:: that he missed any key incident during the game.
"My only intention in speaking publicly, was to highlight what I believe to be a serious and important issue in the game, namely that the fitness levels of referees must match the ever increasing demands of the modern game, which I hope will now be properly addressed through the appropriate formal channels."
What an absolutely massive cunt. He'll get away with this as his comments dont question Wiley's integrity etc as he's stated above. He thinks he runs the fucking game.....
PC Plod
12-10-09, 09:29 AM
he does
JohnDoe
12-10-09, 09:34 AM
So basically, Ferguson is apologizing for calling Wiley a fat cunt, yet he still thinks he's fat and should lose some weight, while remaining hopeful that the FA would listen to him and give Wiley a strict diet.
he does
Agreed.
Pablo1981
12-10-09, 10:52 AM
This is clearly the FA paving the way for him to be pardoned. Absolutely ridiculous! When has any other manager had their "apology" published on the FA's own website? Corrupt beyond belief and it makes my blood boil!
it is a disgrace! - in fact it's laughable - the whole way ferguson conducts himself and has his puppets in the LMA running around after him - i remember a while ago someone posted a list of the LMA members! - i admit i know very little about the organistation or what they do but a lot was explained when i saw the members - Capello is an honory member by default as england manager and has little to nothing to do with them! - after that, it's ferguson in charge, with the likes of moyes, allardyce, phil brown, howard wilkinson hanging of his every drunken slur.
The whole thing and they way ferguson acts reminds me very much of the golf club i was a member of as a junior - a very old school 'gentlemans club' if you like - the club was run by a selected 'council' of members, all Masons, the main man was the captain, voted in by all living past captains, who were all masons :source: - if you were a mason you could act how you wanted, if you weren't if you stepped out of line you were banned from the golf club! In a kinda not meant to be but morbid way - that way eventually died out.
I hate to say this, but it will be the same till ferguson goes - not so much dies as that is a bit ott, but at least until he retires, he will continue to bully refs, belittle who wants, have the media running scared etc and still get away with it.
I hate saying this as i don't want to appear to biased, and at the time i wasn't so sure it was the right thing to do for football reasons - but rafa's so called rant was brilliant, it said what everyone had been thinking, it really rattled ferguson and it got the response rafa wanted - fergie threw the toys out the pram because he had no control over the situation - i am suprised he didn't try and ban the media from talking to rafa haha - since then ferguson has continued to act like a fucking cunt - the attack on rafa he planned with allardyce was embarrassing and imo he got let off lightly by the media - he should have been ripped to pieces over it, he had a pathetic run in with mark hughes and man city over that tevez poster, he has continued to try and bully referees - and slowly one by one the media are starting to speak out
ie, i don't like the fella but piers morgan did a piece in a sunday paper really ripping into ferguson, as a few others slowly have - it's almost like since rafa stood up to the big bully and come out on top if u like, more and more are starting to say "hang on, we don't have to stand for this shite of that cunt" - and slowly more and more are taking a stance - it's like in a playground - u have one big bully running show, someone comes in and stands up to him, then all the other kids realise they don't have to stand for it either.
I am sure that if united football wise have a bit of a slip up, say bottled the league, or missed out to something controversal, ferguson would lose the plot a bit, have a massive rant, and be hit with a huge media backlash, that he would never recover from :D
JohnDoe
12-10-09, 04:17 PM
I love it when Rafa calls him "Meester Ferguson"
This is clearly the FA paving the way for him to be pardoned. Absolutely ridiculous! When has any other manager had their "apology" published on the FA's own website? Corrupt beyond belief and it makes my blood boil!
Surely it was on the United website?
Don't know if it's been mentioned but Riley ran more than all but 4 players in the game apparently, and refs are subjected to strict fitness tests, so Riley is fit enough in the eyes of the tests
Rafa Benitez has every reason to cry foul over FA's Manchester United favouritism By David Maddock
Published 15:05 13/10/09
(1) Recommend (5)
It is a little known fact that Charles n Eddie, that legendary duo who were widely regarded as the Lennon and McCartney of the 90s, were Crewe Alexandra fans. Now c'mon, would I lie to you baby?
Which is probably what the spokesman from the Football Association was nervously humming to himself, even as he was dialling the number for Anfield to inform Rafael Benitez that his skipper Steven Gerrard was, in fact, injured after all, and would be allowed to return to Merseyside.
You can probably guess that Rafa wasn't exactly thrilled on Monday morning when he discovered that Gerrard would be forced to stay with the England squad, despite picking up an injury that saw him limp out of the game against the Ukraine at half time.
And I'm sure you don't require a fevered imagination to realise that his mood darkened somewhat when he discovered that Wayne Rooney was allowed to leave the squad on Monday morning, despite playing the entire game in Kiev. That would be Wayne Rooney of Manchester United, by the way.
Now, I'm not one to induce paranoia, (though can anyone tell me how the internet knows your name?!), but maybe the Liverpool manager has a point when he suggests that a certain club not a million miles down the M62 seems to get preferential treatment from a certain governing body.
Benitez was up against the beak on Tuesday, answering a disciplinary charge because he happened to take off his glasses and clean then when asked about the performance of a referee. He didn't speak, mind, just cleaned his specks.
A certain rival manager, on the other hand, who operates not a million miles down the M62, has yet to be charged even after suggesting that the entire refereeing body in England is unfit to officiate matches. It is 10 days and counting without charge, by the way.
If Gerrard misses the weekend league programme, I think there might just be a certain anger down L4 way. And if Rooney happens to play this weekend, then I think the FA might just have a few more "facts" to contend with.
And when they answer, I think Mr Benitez may be entitled to quote another line from those gifted lyricists, Charles and Eddie. "Look into my eyes, can't you see they're open wide" they sang, like the sweet-voiced angels they were.
As Gerrard hobbles back to Merseyside, perhaps the FA might realise that all our eyes are open just a little bit wide at the moment, incredulous at their apparent favoritism towards a certain club at the eastern end of the M62.
JohnDoe
13-10-09, 03:55 PM
That Rafa rant is paying dividends now. I've never seen the media lay into Ferguson like they've done in the last couple of weeks.
So Fergie has done it at last.
Say "sorry", that is, after the Manchester United manager's groundbreaking decision to "apologise" to Alan Wiley for claiming that the Premier League referee was unfit.
"You see referees abroad who are as fit as a butcher's dog. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player," claimed Sir Alex, following Wiley's performance in the 2-2 draw between United and Sunderland at Old Trafford last weekend.
On Saturday, however, Ferguson climbed down. "I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment my remarks may have caused," he declared in a statement.
But why stop there? Fergie's mea culpa has got MirrorFootball thinking about some other incidents that the United boss should have apologised for…
1) Telling Arsene Wenger to "keep his mouth shut"
In 1997, Sir Alex attempted to get the Premier League season extended in a bid to avoid a fixture pile-up. New Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger opposed the proposal, incurring the enduring wrath of Fergie in the process. "Wenger has been in Japan, he doesn't know anything about English football," fumed Ferguson. "He's at a big club – well, Arsenal used to be big. He should keep his mouth shut, firmly shut."
2) Claiming the Leeds players were "cheating" Howard Wilkinson
During the run-in to the 1996 Premier League title race, Ferguson slated the Leeds players after his side's hard-fought 1-0 defeat of the Elland Road club, alleging they had been "cheating" their manager Howard Wilkinson by reserving all their energies for the match against United and cruising through the rest. It just so happened that Leeds' next game was against United's title rivals Newcastle… the match that sparked Kevin Keegan's infamous on-air rant.
3) Accusing Rafael Benitez of "arrogance and contempt"
Fergie claimed the Liverpool boss had gone "beyond the pale" back in April for making what Sir Alex claimed was a 'game over' signal after their second goal against Blackburn. In a gallant defence of his pal Sam Allardyce, Ferguson declared "I do not think Sam deserved that. I just thought it showed contempt." For good measure, Fergie slammed Rafa for disrepecting his other disciple David Moyes: "Everton are a big club, not a small one which Benitez arrogantly said." And let's face it, there's nothing more arrogant than branding your rivals as a "small club"…
4) Branding Manchester City as "a small club with a small mentality"
…except when Sir Alex does it, obviously. Three months later, it seems Fergie had changed his tune, criticising City for erecting a billboard featuring Carlos Tevez, their recent signing from United, and the tagline 'Welcome To Manchester' in the city centre: "It's City isn't it? They're a small club with a small mentality. All they can talk about is United – they can't get away from it."
5) Declaring that Keith Hackett wasn't "doing his job properly"
In March 2008, Ferguson blamed referee Martin Atkinson for a series of bad decisions during his side's defeat against Portsmouth in the FA Cup, and slated referees chief Keith Hackett in the process: "I'm assessed as a manager – and that [Atkinson’s] performance should not be accepted. Hackett has a lot to answer for – he is not doing his job properly. His favourites always get the games and that’s disappointing."
6) Ranting at Match of the Day commentator John Motson
Back in 1995, Fergie unleashed a torrent of abuse at John Motson after the BBC commentator asked him about Roy Keane's disciplinary record in a post-match interview. "You've no right to ask that question John, you're out of order. You know fine well my ruling on that. Right, that's the interview finished. I'm going to cancel that interview, the whole f***ing lot of it. Cancel it, right? F***ing make sure that does not go out, John."
7) Criticising the Craven Cottage dressing rooms
Ah, the Cottage… one of the most romantic and evocative venues in English football. For everybody except Fergie, that is. Back in May, the United manager decided to aim his ire at the dressing rooms down in SW6. "They're smaller than my office," fumed Fergie, before branding the Portsmouth facilities as "not great" and the Everton changing room as "so narrow it is unbelievable".
8) Kicking a boot at David Beckham
Not everyone might agree that Fergie had something to apologise for here, but even so, it's hardly conduct becoming of a knight of the realm. In February 2003, Sir Alex accidentally kicked a boot at Beckham in anger after United's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup, leaving the midfielder needing stitches. And it's a good opportunity to relive our favourite Becks quote of all time: "Alex Ferguson is the best manager I've ever had at this level. Well, he's the only manager I've had at this level."
9) Doing the dirty on Brian Kidd
Kidd had been Fergie's loyal lieutenant for years, and had even been spoken of as the Scot's eventual successor. But when the United assistant manager left the club in 1998 to take up the manager's job at Blackburn, he became persona non grata at Old Trafford. In his autobiography, Fergie described Kidd as a "moaner" and "insecure". And when United beat Rovers in 1999 to send them down, Fergie just shrugged and said, "Oh well" during his post-match interview.
10) Branding Gordon Strachan as "untrustworthy"
During his time at Aberdeen, Ferguson was incensed at Strachan's decision to sign a pre-contract agreement to join Cologne in the summer of 1984. "Though I always felt there was a cunning streak in Strachan, I had never imagined that he could pull such a stroke on me," wrote Sir Alex in his autobiography. "I decided this man could not be trusted an inch – I would not want to expose my back to him in a hurry."
A truly embarrassing legacy he will leave. Achievements on the pitch are to be commended but the man has no style or grace and I am glad people are now seeing his true colours.
I'm glad some newspapers are finally joining in.
i hate him more and more!! the thing is, knobheads like this just set themselves up for massive fall - so far he is just about escaped getting a right slaughtering due to people being scared of him and his success a manager - it will happen though, he will have a monumental fuck up be it his team on the pitch or his actions off it and it will be a fucking freefall - all those pundits, players, reporters, interviewers etc etc etc he has fucked off in the last 15 years will come out the woodwork and stick the boot in!
PC Plod
14-10-09, 11:30 AM
Hope so, I really do. Good to see it in the press though.
loving this anti ferguson bandwagon about fucking time!!!!
http://fansonline.net/boltonwanderers/article.php?id=324
Megson sticks up for him. Let me guess why...
"He has apologised and then everyone criticised the apology- you are damned if you don't apologise and damned if you do"
He's been called out because it wasn't an unqualified apology. It's the same as saying, "I'm sorry for saying what I said, it was wrong but actually I'm still right".
Why has the fucker still not been charged?
Well they've charged him:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Is-Charged-By-FA-Over-Referee-Remarks/Article/200910315408875?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15408875_Sir_Alex_Ferguson_Is_Charged_ By_FA_Over_Referee_Remarks
Amazing it's taken this long isn't it?
Ferguson charged over ref remarks
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson criticised Wiley's fitness
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his comments on Alan Wiley's fitness.
Ferguson made the remarks about referee Wiley following the 2-2 draw with Sunderland on 3 October.
The 67-year-old, who later apologised to Wiley, could face a hefty fine or a touchline ban if he is found guilty.
The referees' union has called for Ferguson, who has until 3 November to answer the charge, to be banned.
"Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been charged with improper conduct," the FA said in a statement.
"The charge relates to media comments made by Ferguson about referee Alan Wiley following United's match against Sunderland at Old Trafford on 3 October. "
606: DEBATE
Have your say on this story
Ferguson said following United's draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford: "The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit."
He later said he was sorry for any personal embarrassment caused to Wiley, claiming the comments were to highlight "what I believe to be a serious and important issue in the game".
Alan Leighton, head of officials' union Prospect, told BBC Radio 5 live the apology was "half-hearted".
"A punishment should be a Uefa-type coaching ban, which is more than a touchline ban," added Leighton.
While managers are allowed to comment on an official's performance, the FA insists any remarks must not imply bias, question their integrity or engage in what could be construed as a personal attack.
Ferguson has a history of improper conduct charges for incidents involving referees.
In the 2007/08 season Ferguson was given a two-match touchline ban and was handed a £5,000 fine for a rant at referee Mark Clattenburg at half-time during a match at Bolton
And during the 2008/09 campaign Ferguson was banned for two games and fined £10,000 after admitting a charge of improper conduct.
The Scot came on to the pitch to remonstrate with referee Mike Dean after United beat Hull on 1 November.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8314326.stm
Obviously there won't be any proportional punishment here, ginsoak will probably have bottles of wine in his cellar worth more than the fine he gets :rant:
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