Fergie to escape FA caution

United boss will not be punished for Atkinson comments

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 9th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fergie to escape FA caution

Ferguson: Not happy

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Sir Alex Ferguson will not face any action from the Football Association following his remarks on Sunday.

The Manchester United boss was critical of the performance from referee Martin Atkinson during the Red Devils' 1-0 defeat at title rivals Chelsea.

He felt the award of a free-kick which led to the Blues' winner was wrong and branded Atkinson's positioning for the resulting set-piece as 'absolutely ridiculous'.

Ferguson, who has been very vocal in his condemnation of Premier League officials of late, admitted he is starting to lose faith with the men in the middle.

It is understood, however, that his latest outburst will not be punished by the FA as he did not question Atkinson's integrity or suggest there was any bias.

Tug

The incident which incurred Ferguson's wrath began to unfold when Darren Fletcher was penalised for a foul on Ashley Cole.

From the resulting free-kick John Terry nodded the only goal of the game, but United felt that a tug on Wes Brown by Didier Drogba helped the ball into the net.

Ferguson told Sky Sports afterwards: "Clearly, Darren Fletcher's won the ball - Ashley Cole's never touched and has jumped up in the air - and then Drogba's pulled Brown to the ground for the goal.

"The referee's position to make the decision was absolutely ridiculous - he can't see anything. He's got a Chelsea player (Joe Cole) standing right in front of him - and he doesn't even move.

"It was a bad decision, but there's nothing we can do about it. You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that's the way the players are talking in there - it was a bad one."

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Comments (35)

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Sir ike Isaac (Manchester United fan) says...

Thank God, everybody is sharing his opinion on a true matter. It is very sad the premiership is been destroyed the so called reefers. it true the Goal stand but the fact is fegie was right in everything he is saying it a disgrace we hate to say the true i pray every club experience this bias from ref matin. but my massage is that Manchester united am promising everyone that Manchester will lift the trophy to 19th time. God bless one United

Posted 06:51 10th November 2009

Pablo Escabar (Chelsea fan) says...

Its very funny that united fans pipe up about refs now that things arent going their way like the usual... very short memories you united fans have arsenal were better than yous this season and lost and we didnt hear anything about poor reffing when arsenal were clearly denied a penalty... against sunderlan richardsons sending off for kicking the ball away = rididculous......anderson never got booked for it yesterday but carvalho did... and then you have fletcher who yelled at the ref at every single decision and tried to get carvahlo sent off for a nothing foul i thought if you asked for a player to be booked thats a bookable offence he did it all game..were was his booking then and the worst evans should have got red card for delibatly jumping into drogba with his studs... dont get me started on extra time and man city...... Conclusion------ its about time united got some decisions against them!!!!!

Posted 04:20 10th November 2009

James France (Manchester United fan) says...

Its a joke how many people are complaining about Fergie, calling him a 'grumpy old man'. Firstly, compare your own achievements to his and then realise you should be embarassed. Secondly, funny how its ok for all you fans to complain when decisions dont go your way but its wrong for a manager to do it?! Lets face it, United were the better team and the ref had a very poor game. How can anyone say Fletcher fouled Cole?? Watch John Terry grab Valencia's shirt and haul him to the ground and then tell me what a foul looks like.

Posted 03:15 10th November 2009

Paul Ferris (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

I think everyone is missing the point here. It's a another week were the Ref is the centre of attention. Fergie does seem to be getting away with murder but shouldn't you be able to give your view when the ref has clearly got it wrong YET AGAIN! I know the whole thing about respect the refs but they're ruining games lately.

Posted 02:50 10th November 2009

Jill Thomas (Manchester City fan) says...

Respect Campaign - what a joke when the highest profile, most repsected manager in the Premiership is constantly allowed to get away with major tantrums at the 4th official - what example is that setting for his own players, never mind the youngsters nationwide who look up to him. The FA seem keen to make an example when it suits but with the Man Ure CEO on the FA what can we expect? Fletcher looks as if he has been taking tackling lessons from Paul Scholes and Johnnie Evans from Bruce Lee. Will Evans be punished on video evidence? I think not even though his actions were on a par with if not worse Adebayor's on van Persie - and the referee was further away. And as for inconsistency. The same ref gave as an explanation for the Fergie time in the OT derby that it was a minimum of 4 mins and there was 30 seconds added for a substitution etc making the added added time. However, on Sunday he gave, I think 5 minutes, and played exactly the amount shown on the board even though there was a sustitution after the board had been shown. Standards are far from what htey should be in football at the moment and it is a serious concern. Is the amount of money in the game leading to stress levels becoming too high in the fight for success? And is there now an urgent need for technology and a more common sense approach/

Posted 01:00 10th November 2009

Graham Smith (Burnley fan) says...

As usual Ferguson complains about officials. The tackle by Fletcher was over the ball, his heel just touched it but it was a high tackle and therefore a FOUL. Drogber wasn't offside but didn't touch ball anyway. I haven't enough fingers to count the number of times Man Utd players have been in offside positions, right in front of the goalkeeper, when another player has scored, and it's been counted, so grow up Ferguson and accept the result. There has been a lot of talk about respect in the game, it's time Ferguson showed more of it and was man enough to stop his players from continually harassing the referee. For too many years referees have allowed Ferguson to bully them into giving decisions United's way, it's about time for an even playing field. It's nice to win, but it shouldn't be about winning any way you can.

Posted 00:34 10th November 2009

Irving Green (Manchester United fan) says...

It amazes me how many fans comment on Manchester United. I believe every fan out there is secretly a Manchester United Fan. And, do you know why? Manchester United are the benchmark in the premiership which we have dominated for nearly twenty years. All this talk of us winning Premiership titles by bullying the referees is ridiculous. Every premiership crown Manchester United have won has been won fair and square without exception. The only difference with the Manchester United Team now and several seasons ago is the fact we do not have an out and out centre forward. Ronaldo was a winger who was exceptional with free kicks and is pace is surely missed. However, I have every confidence in Sir Alex Ferguson to restore our pride and bring us yet another Premiership Crown. The rants and raves that SAF has is only because he is so passionate about the club and expects the games United play in to be refereed correctly. When Man Utd have been outplayed and outpassed and lost like against Liverpool SAF is the first one to admit that the team was second best and not at the races. However, when the officials make over SIX CLEAR CUT ERRORS in a high profile game such as yesterday then what do you expect. All SAF is asking for is for referees to ref the game to the highest standard possible and make the right calls. Anyone that supports the referee's decisions yesterday was obviously watching the wrong game. Pulling an attacking players shirt in the penalty area is a STONEWALL PENALTY. Wazza being clearly a yard ONSIDE and WRONGLY given offside is incompetent and a joke. Then making THREE consecutive bad decisions for the Chelsea goal is even more questionable to say the least.

Posted 22:47 9th November 2009

Michael Kieran (Manchester City fan) says...

Of course he is not being charged. We all know the F.A is extremely biased when it comes to Ferguson, there are 2 different rule books, one for Man Utd and one for everyone else. What happened to the respect campaign? It obviously doesn't apply to him, he is constantly screaming in the fourth officials ear. If things don't go his way he rants and raves about unfit referees and poor decisions. When things do go his way, he jokes and chuckles with him (Riley at the United City derby) they are best pals. He has no respect for anyone, for football or the rules. United supporters will put this down to passion or whatever deluded response they come up with, let them think it, deep down, they know what the truth is...

Posted 22:38 9th November 2009

Fantom Dark (Chelsea fan) says...

Yeah yeah. Fergie does it again. Whats new. Why can't people be more mature. You don't see Chelsea criticizing anyone when they loss. They pick up and move on. Man U should learn from them. get up and move on. lets see great football and sportsmanship.

Posted 22:30 9th November 2009

Tyrese Goldman (Chelsea fan) says...

Oh there's a surprise, United lost a match and Ferguson thinks its the refrees fault again.. Its bewildering how he can do this match after match and get away with it. Wait, no it isnt, he's done it so many times now that its not until he says so over the top that they cant possible just chalk it up to what he usually says when he loses that its almost impossible for him to be charged for minor comments like this. I've said it before and i'll say it again: The Respect campaign is a joke!

Posted 21:35 9th November 2009

Gazi Raymond (Manchester United fan) says...

I totally agree that Fergie is always ranting on about refs, lets put this aside every manager in the league would contest the same on bad desiscions, its just that fergie is more in the lime light, being the best manager ever in English football, everyone is ready to pounce on him. There should of been a penalty, the offside was a 50/50 the free kick should not of been given, as for Drogba when he was hit by Evans in the ribs, hell he looked like he had been hit with an electric shock ( pathetic). Manu should take positives from the game that they was the better side. Chelsea should think they were lucky, wait till they play Arsenal!

Posted 21:23 9th November 2009

Simon O'connor (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

As one of the Sky pundits might say - it's unbelievable! Man Utd have benefitted from more dubious refereeing decisions than any team I know of, and Fergie has the cheek to cry foul when some finally go against him. Ball goes 3 feet over the line at Old Trafford - no goal. Visiting 'keeper clearly gets a hand to the ball at Old Trafford - penalty. 6 and a half minutes injury time at Old Trafford (or until United score!). But only after sundays game are people losing faith in referees?? its hypocrisy of the highest order. And to compound matters, Fergie has a go at referees every second week - despite the fact that they normally seem to do there best for United - and gets away with it. And the cherry on top is the fact that he actually accuses the F.A. of victimising him and his club!! Its a ridiculous situation, and his behaviour and the petulant behaviour of some of his players is damaginig to premier league.

Posted 21:16 9th November 2009

Kevin Winyard (Chelsea fan) says...

The reason that you don't hear Arsene, Rafa or Carlo complaining has NOTHING to do with lack of passion. It is because they know that the FA will punish them. Unlike Fergie, they do not have the FA in their pocket, do they? Fergie and Man Ure do not know how to lose with grace. They just take it for granted that they should win everything. No wonder they are the most hated club in the PL.

Posted 20:53 9th November 2009

Peter Griffith (Liverpool fan) says...

Funny how the Man U fans are defending Fergie, yes he may have a point but the problem is HE gets AWAY with it. Yes I know Drogba dives and acts out his award winning scenes, it seems every club has players who dive, no team is exempt from this. You want to defend Jonny Evans too? He's taking a leaf out of Cantonas book with his little girly kung fu kicks!

Posted 20:44 9th November 2009

Paul Jones (Liverpool fan) says...

And I remember Benitez getting charged for cleaning his glasses.... Does Ferguson have to actually kill a referee before the FA will charge him?? So much for the Respect campaign and their insistence that Ferguson gets no special treatment.

Posted 13:52 9th November 2009

Nigel Thomas (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

Wht does Fergie never complain when he wins!?

Posted 13:51 9th November 2009

Kevin Corcoran (Manchester United fan) says...

As a United fan I will be worried on the day when after a defeat, Sir Alex does not criticise the referee. It shows his passion for the club and his undying desire to win. It is the difference between him and other managers. Rafa Benitez, Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti are rarely overcome by anger and frustration after defeat. Chelsea performed poorly yesterday and were lucky to win. I think they mentally froze and were nervous when confronted by the institution that is Manchester United. Man Utd have won the league many times without having the best players and I hope that once again the great mentality of everyone in the club will lead to number 19.

Posted 13:48 9th November 2009

Diane Robinson (Sunderland fan) says...

There's a surprise, Fergie getting off scot free again, wonder what would have happened if it were Rafa, or would he have been complaining about the ref if they had won... I think not.

Posted 13:41 9th November 2009

Robert Ellis says...

Isn't it about time old Fergie learnt to keep his mouth shut, he is getting worse than anyone I know - and that includes all the women.

Posted 13:40 9th November 2009

Leebo The greebo (Chelsea fan) says...

Funny how Fergie never comes out and criticizes refs when the major decisions go Utds way...... If it had been a Utd player who had been hit in the chest by uncontrolled studded boots (dangerous play) he would be calling for the perpetrator to be sent off. If the same goal had been scored FOR Man Utd he would find it to be a perfectly acceptable goal. If the Rooney off-side incident had happened to Drogba it would be "linesmen make mistakes". I think we are finding out how much of a sore loser the man is - each of their defeats have been due to "refereeing errors" - thing is that he is used to getting all the big calls his way. Everyone knows that most of their titles is because of favourable decisions at Old Trafford anyway...Haven't they onl;y given away something like 18 penalties in the league - at Old Trafford anyway - since the Prem started? That says it all really....

Posted 13:39 9th November 2009
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