Fergie questions ref display

United boss criticises match official following Anfield defeat

Last updated: 26th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

The atmosphere is hard to handle for the referee. Whether he had enough experience, I don't know. He will certainly learn from it.

Sir Alex Ferguson
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Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned whether Andre Marriner had enough experience to referee Manchester United's defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.

The Red Devils boss saw his side lose 2-0 at Anfield as Fernando Torres and David Ngog struck in the second half to end the home team's run of four successive defeats.

Ferguson was disappointed by United's performance, but was incensed by the decision-making of Marriner, who sent off Nemanja Vidic in the closing minutes for a second booking.

Liverpool's Javier Mascherano also saw red before the final whistle after collecting two cautions, but Ferguson believed his side suffered the injustices at the hands of a 38-year-old match official.

The Scot, who earlier in the week had highlighted the pressure match officials face in Liverpool versus United clashes, told Sky Sports: "I'm disappointed by the performance, the first half in particular. It was a bad performance by us.

"We didn't handle the atmosphere of the game, I thought. We didn't handle the decisions against as well. We should have been better at that, we have got enough experience to do it.

Major decisions

"The second half we improved a good deal. But we lost out to one or two major decisions."

United were disappointed not to be awarded a penalty when Jamie Carragher crunched Michael Carrick, although replays suggested the Reds captain for the day, in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, made a slight connection with the ball.

The defending Premier League champions were also upset that the Liverpool centre-back was not shown a red card when he appeared to haul down friend and former team-mate Michael Owen, who was roundly booed when entering from the bench.

Ferguson has suggested that an electric atmosphere at a deafening Anfield may have influenced Marriner, especially when Vidic earned his first yellow card.

The United boss said: "I think they got a wee bit caught up in some of the atmosphere - the wounded animal aspect of it. The fans were fanatical and every decision they put the referee under pressure.

"For instance on Vidic, clearly it is a foul. But then he wins the second ball and gets booked for that. The crowd got him booked

Laws of the game

"The atmosphere is hard to handle for the referee. Whether he had enough experience, I don't know. He will certainly learn from it."

Ferguson added: "The most controversial decision was Carragher bringing down Michael Owen. He was clear through.

"The laws of the game were altered to prevent professional fouls of that nature and if Carragher goes off, he is their best player and their captain. It would have been a different game. They would have been under pressure.

"The referee was only four or five yards from it he cannot use a covering defender as an excuse. Michael was clean through. With Michael's pace he is going to get away from him."

Ferguson said regarding Carragher's challenge on Carrick: "He has gone right over the top of the ball. If it is outside of the box it is a free-kick and maybe a yellow card.

"But it was inside the box and the referee was only six yards from it. It was another bad decision."

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Comments (89)

Irving Green (Manchester United fan) says...

Man United were very poor but this Liverpool win just papers over the cracks in their defensive ranks. Carragher's limitations will be exposed many more times this season when he faces fit, quick strikers. United too have defensive problems with the Vidic/Ferdinand pairing not up to the job this season. However, Man United problems lie in the midfield and attacking areas. We need a hard tackling midfielder similar to a Roy Keane to command respect in the middle of the park and we need a attacking midfielder that can create chances for the strikers. In United's attacking department we have Rooney, Berbatov and Owen and youngsters (Willbeck and Mascerada). Rooney is the only competent striker in the line up given the opportunities and he had few chances to score yesterday. Berbatov just holds up the ball does a few tricks and cannot run. Owen cannot play a full game because of fitness and lacks match sharpness a proven goalscorer who will come good. That leaves the youngsters. Now Fergie used to have 4 strikers in his teams now we down to 1, 1/2 & 1/4. This game was Liverpool's Cup Final as it seems to be the only game they turn up for in recent seasons. The ref was average, United were very ordinary and Liverpool wanted it more. I just hope that Man United can turn it on in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford and play like I know we can. United's Best performance at OT in recent years was not the defeat of our neighbours city but the demolition of Roma 7-1 a couple of years ago in the Champions League. Man Utd just need to be an attacking team again instead of keeping the ball with square passes and passbacks to the goal keeper. When we play the attacking way there is no team in the Country or Europe than can live with us!!!

Posted 15:59 26th October 2009

Tom Rogers (Manchester United fan) says...

i thought that liverpool deserved to win easily and if anything the 2-0 scoreline flattered us more than liverpool. however the referee did have a poor game and it would take a very biased liverpool fan to think otherwise. the ref set a precedent by booking evra for two fouls (one of which torres tripped over his own feet), and then booked berbatov for nothing. after this he decided that vidic should be booked for? not hearing the whistle after a foul and then winning the ball cleanly twice??? to make this worse he didn't book lucas at any point in the match and also deemed carragher hacking down rooney on the half way line only worthy of a warning. carragher however was then booked later in the match after he hauled owen down as he was moving clear one on one with the keeper. (liverpool fans can claim that vidic only got booked for fouling kuyt but not only was the two situations different as ours was done on the half way line and yours was committed just outside the area, but also because the ref knew that vidic was already booked so he had to get sent off anyway whereas the ref had been more lienient with carragher earlier meaning that he was allowed to stay on the pitch). so instead of liverpool being down to 10 men we then found that it was us down to 10. the ref finally gave us a decision when in injury time he sent off mascherano which was in my eyes a harsh second booking, but apart from that he gave us nothing throughout the match. and all united fans tearing into carrick should realise that he was probably our best performer behind van der sar yesterday. he's got great passing ability and we always look better when he's in the team rather than anderson, scholes or fletcher

Posted 15:55 26th October 2009

Paul Bailey (Leyton Orient fan) says...

So Man Utd lose and once again its the refs fault...change the record, everyone knows that refs are biased towards Manchester United NOT against them, check the opta stats, Fletcher 6 fouls against Arsenal no booking, i didnt hear Fergie complaining then....unfortunately, you can't teach class...and when it comes to losing graciously Man United have no class whatsoever....

Posted 15:48 26th October 2009

Simon Gaffoor (Liverpool fan) says...

Dan Jones, So you agreed with the rest of then ay? lol ooooh oooh stop biting! But you wont win anything this year ...lets be honest here then again you cannot as your a Man United fan Arsenal should have beaten ( now now i said honesty) Sunderland should too, Lucky win in the Champs league, honesty again please trouble with united fans if things dont go there way? they moan and blame someone else ie: the ref, the fans, the ball, the kit, the weather, the cameras, wrong kick off time, tireness, clouds, etc etc get over yourself, opinions are just that opinions! my opinion is your just not that good anymore! you are now beatable and no one should fear Manchester United anymore. come on now honestly do you really think this team is good enough? you have played no one yet your first real test ( Arsenal) you didn't deserve the win, your second real test you got beat by a poor Liverpool side. and dont mention Man City as every other fan in the country knows Man city were robbed by Fergie time. ref suited you that day ay? only when it suits Man united Fans and that my friend just about sums up Man united. Peace

Posted 15:46 26th October 2009

Michael Hulmes (Liverpool fan) says...

I'm sick of Fergie moaning when a result doesn't go his way. I think he might be losing it. He doesn't even know what he's saying in interviews any more. "The fans were fanatical" he said. Err yeah, that's why they are called "fans" Lets hope Liverpool can put a run together now. Aqua-lung-lani may have to play earlier than expected due to Mascherano's red card.

Posted 15:36 26th October 2009

John Durrant (Manchester United fan) says...

Fergie better sort his team out a bit quick !! If i was Rooney i wouldnt want to play every week with Berbatov, who seems to think hes magic,maybe he can make himself dissappear?? United have been unconvincing this season .We seem to have lost our flowing passing game that has made us so successful over the past seasons.Sorry to say that both Scholesy and Giggs were both shadows of their former self,Carrick only plays well when others around him are playing well and Valencia is a poor replacement for Ronaldo who is once more showing the world his undoubted class.Get your chequebook out Fergie before its too late!!!!!!!

Posted 15:22 26th October 2009

Kalikwira Godfrey (Manchester United fan) says...

The English referees need to improve their refereeing skills, otherwise, Liverpool deserved a win because of the long spell without wins!!!

Posted 13:55 26th October 2009

Dan Jones (Manchester United fan) says...

I am not sure why so many people have misinterpreted the way Fergie reacted yesterday but he didn't blame the referee for United losing. He actually said that Liverpool were the better side and United got what they deserved which was nothing. However, he still has every right to criticise a poor refereeing performance regardless of whether or not it was the reason for Uniteds loss. The ref was poor and someone needs to say it. Everyone seems to jump on United and Fergies back all the time due to the sheer hatred that is thrown their way when quite often there is a legitimate reason for being annoyed with the refs. As for Simon Gaffoors comments about Uniteds glory years being on their way out? Well that is what people said a few years back before Fergie remoulded the team and went on to win a couple more leagues and a European Cup. Enough time and he will remould and become victorious again. Even being poor, if I'm not mistaken, United are currently back to back to back Champions in the Premier League and in second place at the moment. Not bad for a team on their way out is it?

Posted 13:50 26th October 2009

Kelvin Whitfield says...

All of you folks who want video referral challenges to referees decisions....think again....it will break the speed and flow of the game. The only argument for video replays during a match should be for deciding if the ball has crossed the line for a goal. It's interesting that managers only complain when the decisions go against their team. Referees would be greatly helped if good examples where set by players and managers alike.....ban the divers, the elbowers,the two footed jump tacklers and the managers who constantly be- little the men in the middle...deduct points....the FA will do this for maladministration of all things...they should have the balls to do it to footballing cheats...It would soon improve behaviour on and off the field of play.

Posted 13:50 26th October 2009

Malkudi 08 (Manchester United fan) says...

Please guys let's cut the refree some slack, he has one view and anyone on his first big four match would have faltered, I, sir alex, evra and all united fans are frustrated are'nt we? we are, so all this, comes out of frustration, we didd'nt play well, chose the wrong line up, berbatov was lazy after the first half, nani came on to dance, and vidic had a bad day. It happens, liverpool lost at stamford bridge u can't win every game. I mean, we need to buy players come january thats it, the no.7 shirt needs to leave micheal owen it's that. Sir alex should not blame anyone these things make football sweet. not the ref, berbatov-kuyt, berbatov- ref, lucas-fouls, vidic-red card, vds-diving, u r all angry, liverpool were the better team man utd MISS RONLDO it's as simple as ABC.

Posted 13:50 26th October 2009

Ameir Ameir (Liverpool fan) says...

Its seems to me always some one has to go down on the pitch if you are not performed well, we have to be realistic in these day, that understandably how hard to take it but its part of the game when you lose. Stop blame a ref into similar and familiar sound and it always when comes around goes around, even those the ref was n't too bad, he was confused with atmosphere most of the times but it's not like was any strange decision came from his mind it's just tried to be fair act according to his best to equalize the situation. if cara fouls Cari on the box no penalty then Baba fouls kuty on the box by pull him down there was no penalty that was 80% should be decision to award liverpool penalty rather 40% fouls from Cara cause clear we were all seen that Cara slight the ball before cari. Came into the same situation the same booking offense, Cara with Vidic. Man UTD awarded more than enough time when they face the Man City for extra time to won the game. Liverpool dismiss thier penalty claim with spurs loosing misery goal with sunderland no complaint what else they want Man utd. may be they want FA to handle the Cup every season without working hard ? horrible. moan moan moan fergie.

Posted 13:49 26th October 2009

Gary Kenealy (Liverpool fan) says...

What makes me laugh about this match is Fergie moaning (once again i might add) about an electric Anfield influencing the referee in his decisions....because that never happens at Old Trafford does it?! I'm not quite sure how Man Utd managed to make Lucas look like a world class midfielder, but they did. Granted we have been quite poor by our own high standards set last season, and there are still 5 or 6 players in our squad that i would like to see making their way out of Anfield, and i would also like to see some home grown talent coming through the Liverpool ranks - but we still have the backbone of a good team! I hope we can kick on from this and put ourselves in a much better position by Christmas! Y.N.W.A.

Posted 13:46 26th October 2009

Joe Brown (Liverpool fan) says...

Fergie is just a big moaner, whenever something doesn't go his way he moans, rather than admitting his team was outplayed he moans, yet if the ref makes a bad decision in favour of man u he says nothing. Rafa was a man and took it on the chin when a wrong ref decision (the beach ball) even though that decision cost him. Fergie could really do with manning up and just taking it on the chin when his team is out played, as it was yesterday, by Liverpool for the 3rd time in the last 3 meetings

Posted 13:43 26th October 2009

Robbie Blake (Burnley fan) says...

It was laughable to hear Fergie going on about the fans putting pressure on the referee to make decisions, how many decisions have gone United's way at Old Trafford due to 70000 fans roaring at the ref putting pressure on him. Also, someone in the FA/Ref's Association or whoever, should do something about players crowing around the ref trying to influence him, Man U and Chelsea players are notoriously bad for it, Giggs and Rooney were at it all through Sundays game.

Posted 13:34 26th October 2009

Tim Lennon (Manchester United fan) says...

Its quite simple Liverpool had more desire to win the match. The United line-up was somewhat questionnable. Ferdinand is having a nightmare at the minute. O'Shea never was a quality player, Scholes is finished, Carrick is as slow as a donkey, Valencia is far from quality, and as for Berbatov he runs about like a puppet with no strings. That Nani fella is a complete tube. United need to really get some young quality players in January or else a trophyless season looms.

Posted 13:31 26th October 2009

Kevin Connor (Everton fan) says...

Why don't the English FA and, if it comes to that, FIFA, stop faffing about and do something about the continuous poor performances of football referees. It seems to me that the FA - or is it Sweet FA - are in fear and trepidation of upsetting the Referee's Union. Meanwhile, the most outrageous mistakes are being made in the game which we all love. Remember the FIFA Panel referee (English unfortunately) who booked a player THREE times before sending him off. I sure that it's not just Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes who seem frequently in trouble with the FA for. justifiably, complaining about referees. Though Liverpool recently lost a game because of a refereeing error, Rafael Benitez obviously realised that complaining was pointless. Not even a referee and FOUR assistants are capable of getting football decisions right. Introduction of video replays is the obvious answer. Each team is allowed to challenge a refereeing decision, say, three times in the course of a match. If the challenge is right then three remain: if wrong, only two remain. It appears to work in tennis, cricket and rugby union. Something needs to be done.

Posted 10:58 26th October 2009

John Moore (Manchester United fan) says...

Look the better team won, but that does not change anything liverpool were not great and beat a bad Utd team. All this has done is paper over the cracks. You can't just blame the Ref even tho he was poor. Fergie needs to take a long look at his midfield Carrick is not good enough for Utd and Scholes is past it.

Posted 10:57 26th October 2009

Simon Gaffoor (Liverpool fan) says...

Here we go again, Fergie moaning and blaming others for being beat by a team who wanted it more! United were shown up for what they really are a team on the way out of its glory years... what is it this time? grass was to green? kicked of at 14.00 instead of 13.30? the ball was round and not pumped up the correct regulations? look, regardless of what Fergie has to say carraghers tackle was a yellow card which he got, it wasn't dangerous, owen was not through on goal, and no matter what Fergie or Man utd fans think its a YELLOW card only! read the rules and stop moaning! Carragher in the spotlight again Fergie and man utd fans claiming penalty? Wrong again, Carragher actually got the ball which is? yep thats right, not a penalty! however berbatov pully down kyutt in the box is a penalty so if anything kyutts was more of a penalty than Carragher's perfectly good tackle. Ps edwin van der Sar diving and cheatintg to get masch sent off? no i didn't think man utd fans would bring that up. So Fergie still has Grounds for complaint? i dont thinks so. Fergie has blamed everyone but the players themselves. Torres made Rio look like a lame donkey as for Vidic he just panics when he see's torres! Rooney and giggs should have had yellow cards for constant barracking of the ref but yet again Mr Ferguson and man utd fans dont see that. FACE IT YOU LOST AND DESERVED TOO, NO EXCUSES!

Posted 10:57 26th October 2009

Sam T (Liverpool fan) says...

The referee wasn't at his best. Liverpool were the better team, and that's why they won. I don't see what is wrong with the Carragher Owen incident because minutes later it was the same incident with Vidic and Kuyt, but Vidic and Carragher both got the same punishment. Vidic was already on a yellow, and that's why he got sent off. Also the penalty incident could have gone either way. Challenges like that are always hard for refs.

Posted 10:46 26th October 2009

Simon M (Manchester United fan) says...

Cant believe D B's comment - Berbatov should have been sent off? You have no idea? Shirt pulling and grabbing goes on in EVERY game. EVERY team does it, what Berbatov did unfortunately happens all the time, hardly ever will you get a pen for it, but to say it was a sending off......unbelievable. But to put it in perspective, how many fouls did Lucas do? Far more than Vidic and Mascherano yet he didnt get a card? As for Carragher cutting down Rooney twice on the half way line, and Rugby tackling Owen when he turned him for him not to get 2 yellows in a mystery. His tackle on Carrick was just about OK, he made slight contact with the ball and we didnt moan about it which for me says no penalty. After all this we need to put it in perspective, we have been way below par all season yet still find ourselves 2nd. Liverpool always raise their game against us so it is no suprise that they won and deserved too. But come May Liverpool will still be without the title and no European glory. You can have your moment to celebrate another 3 points against us but as like the previous years you dont get a trophy by beating us!

Posted 10:44 26th October 2009

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