I always thought Winter was a bit of a ****, 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/2...es-jeff-winter
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/2...es-jeff-winter
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.
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