http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle6916400.ece
Alan Wiley urged to take legal action against Sir Alex Ferguson
James Ducker
The referees’ union will press Alan Wiley to take legal action against Sir Alex Ferguson after signalling that the Manchester United manager’s touchline ban for his outspoken criticism of the official was not the end of the matter.
But Ferguson has sent a written apology to Wiley to reiterate his regret over the personal nature of the attack and hopes that it will be enough to persuade the referee not to sue.
Ferguson wrote to Wiley before his personal hearing in London on Thursday, when he was fined £20,000 and given a four-match touchline ban, of which two matches were suspended, by an FA regulatory commission for claiming the referee “just wasn’t fit enough” to officiate in United’s 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland last month.
Wiley, who was said to have come close to quitting after Ferguson’s comments, may come under pressure to take the matter farther, though. Alan Leighton, the national secretary of Prospect, the referees’ union, has claimed repeatedly that Ferguson’s remarks were particularly grave because they questioned Wiley’s integrity and said that he would sit down with the referee to discuss the matter.
“One of the things we are saying is, is there a case these comments are defamatory?” Leighton said. “I intend to talk to Alan Wiley to see if he wants to sue on the issue.”
Leighton accused the FA of “flunking it” and failing to send out a strong message that abuse of officials will not be tolerated by not issuing Ferguson with a heavier punishment. He said Prospect would take up the matter with the relevant authorities and ask to see the full details of the commission’s findings with a view to pushing for more severe sanctions in the future.
“We need to take a few steps back and see what has happened here and I would like to see more about the judgments,” he said. “We never wanted to get lawyers involved, but if referees don’t feel they are being protected, sooner or later someone is going to take action over it.
“We are going to talk to the relevant authorities to see what it means for the future. I’ll also talk to our members. I think there will be a concern this isn’t an appropriate way to send a message that these comments were wholly unacceptable.”
Ferguson will have to sit in the stands for United’s Barclays Premier League matches at home to Everton a week today and away to Portsmouth the Saturday after. Given that the United manager will still be able to communicate by phone to the dugout, however, and speak to his players before the match and at half-time, critics of the FA’s decision believe the governing body’s touchline bans are pointless punishments.
They want to see Uefa-style coaching bans that prohibit managers from having any contact with their staff or players before or during a match.
James Ducker
The referees’ union will press Alan Wiley to take legal action against Sir Alex Ferguson after signalling that the Manchester United manager’s touchline ban for his outspoken criticism of the official was not the end of the matter.
But Ferguson has sent a written apology to Wiley to reiterate his regret over the personal nature of the attack and hopes that it will be enough to persuade the referee not to sue.
Ferguson wrote to Wiley before his personal hearing in London on Thursday, when he was fined £20,000 and given a four-match touchline ban, of which two matches were suspended, by an FA regulatory commission for claiming the referee “just wasn’t fit enough” to officiate in United’s 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland last month.
Wiley, who was said to have come close to quitting after Ferguson’s comments, may come under pressure to take the matter farther, though. Alan Leighton, the national secretary of Prospect, the referees’ union, has claimed repeatedly that Ferguson’s remarks were particularly grave because they questioned Wiley’s integrity and said that he would sit down with the referee to discuss the matter.
“One of the things we are saying is, is there a case these comments are defamatory?” Leighton said. “I intend to talk to Alan Wiley to see if he wants to sue on the issue.”
Leighton accused the FA of “flunking it” and failing to send out a strong message that abuse of officials will not be tolerated by not issuing Ferguson with a heavier punishment. He said Prospect would take up the matter with the relevant authorities and ask to see the full details of the commission’s findings with a view to pushing for more severe sanctions in the future.
“We need to take a few steps back and see what has happened here and I would like to see more about the judgments,” he said. “We never wanted to get lawyers involved, but if referees don’t feel they are being protected, sooner or later someone is going to take action over it.
“We are going to talk to the relevant authorities to see what it means for the future. I’ll also talk to our members. I think there will be a concern this isn’t an appropriate way to send a message that these comments were wholly unacceptable.”
Ferguson will have to sit in the stands for United’s Barclays Premier League matches at home to Everton a week today and away to Portsmouth the Saturday after. Given that the United manager will still be able to communicate by phone to the dugout, however, and speak to his players before the match and at half-time, critics of the FA’s decision believe the governing body’s touchline bans are pointless punishments.
They want to see Uefa-style coaching bans that prohibit managers from having any contact with their staff or players before or during a match.