Fergie fumes at ref Webb

United boss angry over officiating at a hostile Emirates Stadium

Last updated: 4th November 2007

Sir Alex Ferguson

Ferguson: Not impressed

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Sir Alex Ferguson accused referee Howard Webb of favouring Arsenal following the 2-2 stalemate which ensued at Emirates Stadium.

Manchester United looked on course to take a three-point haul from the capital when they led after 90 minutes, but in stoppage time, William Gallas netted a late leveller.

Ferguson feels United should have been awarded a free-kick in the build-up to Gallas' equaliser and he has accused Webb of being intimidated in North London.

"I think Howard Webb has a great chance to be the top referee but today was a big game for him and, at times, he favoured Arsenal," Ferguson told MUTV.

"Their second goal came from him not giving a free-kick for a foul on Louis Saha on the far side. It should have been a foul for us.

Bias

"It is very difficult for the referee. On our bench, we were getting terrible abuse from people two or three feet away from us.

"There is a lack of security here. It is absolutely disgraceful the abuse you and your staff take. All sorts of things are been shouted and screamed at you and there is an absolute danger here."

Ferguson could not hide his frustration at throwing away the opportunity for a win, which would have taken them to the Premier League summit, at the expense of their opponents.

"I think we have thrown it away. At 2-1 you think you've won the game and for them to get a second goal when they did - for us to give it away in injury-time - it is very hard to take I can tell you. It is a fact that they got out of jail.

"We spoke about it at half-time, the importance of not letting them back in and we started the second half well and then we lose a goal from having our own throw-in near their corner flag. It's amazing. It's criminal.

"After their equaliser, Arsenal got at us for five or 10 minutes but then it seemed to be heading for a draw.

Criminal defending

"I don't settle for a point at any time. We send a team out with ability to win matches and we try to win matches.

"We settled quite well after their equaliser and Wayne Rooney had a marvellous chance. Some of our attacking play was great, some of our football was threatening.

"In a game of that magnitude, there was going to be chances. We had ours and they had theirs."

While conceding Arsenal have played some fine football this season, Ferguson feels they reverted to a direct style of play in order to find an equaliser.

Long ball

He concluded: "Arsenal are good football team and they had plenty of possession but they didn't actually make anything of their chances.

"They got their second goal from pumping the ball into the box. It got a bit of a

deflection when they pumped the ball into the box in injury-time and ended up at the back post (with Gallas). I think it (Gallas' volley) was over the line. Edwin (van der Sar) thought it was over the line.

"We produced some good football for our goals but their goals were a bit scrappy. It's unlike Arsenal. They normally score goals from good passing movements. Today they were slashing the ball in the box and getting goals from it."

Comments

J Jones (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Hargreaves: our goals were beautiful, theirs scrappy. Is he thinking for himself? This sounds amost identical, even in its phrasing, to part of Fergusons amazing rant after the match. Surely the scrappiest goal of the game was the opener. Starting with a push on Hleb by Brown?, a low cross from Ronaldo, a mis-kick fom Rooney, then off the forearm of the sliding Gallas past the keeper. A beautiful goal we're told by Ferguson and then told again by Ferguson through Hargreaves. Contrast to the scrappiness of Arsenals opener where Hleb has possession deep in his own half on the left, under pressure from Anderson. He skipped past his man, two others close in, he turns, chips it over both onto Fabregas' chest who plays it to Adebayor and makes a run, Adebayor plays it and makes a run, Eboue lifts it over the defence onto Adebayors toe but Van Der Sar at the same time parries the ball. The RB collects, squares to Fabregas who slides it into the corner of the net under pressure. The statistics say that arsenal had more shots both on and off target and dominated possession, however watching the match you did get the sense that United were dangerous on the counter and played very well defensively. Most people have agreed it was a fair result, Quieroz included, which makes Fergusons rant seem all the more deranged. Maybe he does have a point in some areas: 1. Opposition fans should always be polite to Ferguson and cheer his team on as well 2. Referees need to improve their reading of the game - for example when Anderson waves an imaginary yellow card this means that a booking is required. If unsure to whom, ask Anderson 3. Security at the Emirates is indeed a farce. It has been pointed out that there is a crowd of over 60,000 people just yards from the pitch, and this is not an isolated incident 4. Finally when will people realise that Arsenal are a scrappy long-ball team made up of nasty foreigners

Posted 11:35 5th November 2007

Paul Simon says...

Lee Sorrell.. You are bang on the money mate. Fergie seems to forget the amount of so called "bias" tended towards the big clubs at home. how many years is it since man utd gave away a penalty at home? man utd and liverpool fans should think themselves lucky that we didnt get the penaltys we deserved against them. But when we get a pen thats not deserved or right, dont start bangin on about it, that goes for all teams. most things equal themselves out over the course of a season.

Posted 23:07 4th November 2007

W W (Charlton Athletic fan) says...

Brilliant manager, but shameful comments.

Posted 22:50 4th November 2007

Numpty Dumpty (Weston-S-Mare fan) says...

What sort of book will it be, a paperback book or a hardback book? If they hit Fergie on the head with a hardback book it might hurt and he could sue them

Posted 16:05 4th November 2007

Adam Mulvihill (Liverpool fan) says...

Talking to many people (including many United fans), before I heard of Fergies comments, and the general consensus was that the ref was, if anything, a little bit in Uniteds favour. He did a good job in a tough game but on occassion was giving United more than he should have. This is typical of Fergie though and I feel that, yet again, there won't be as much as "well your wrong" out of the FA as they don't like to punish Fergie. If it had been Wenger then you can be sure there would be at the very least a fine for him out of it.

Posted 14:32 4th November 2007

Rameez Ahmed (Manchester United fan) says...

Well it's just not about Fergie complaining, if it was Utd who scored late then it would be definite that Wenger would`ve complained. So i think it was a fair result for both, we as a man utd fans would think that we should`ve won it ,cuz we threw the lead twice ,but any way its part of the game. One thing for sure that Arsenal is in top for m at the moment, but Wenger and the fans should be aware of their squad, because they dont have the biggest. If their key players get injured, it would be very difficult for them to cope with that. But anyway good luck to them.

Posted 14:15 4th November 2007

Lee Sorrell (Chelsea fan) says...

As a die hard Chelsea fan the result was great for my team, but the truth is Arsenal were robbed by Webb of all 3 points, they played the better football, had 2 very good penalty shouts denied by Webb and had to deal with Man Utd's negative tactics. Fergie's a great manager but he needs to stop moaning when his team are out played and out thought. You notice that Fergie didn't mention Webb not giving Anderson a yellow card as he should of done as Anderson was trying to get the ref to book an Arsenal player which the FA have told refs to clamp down on. I think Fergie meant to say good fortune for uniteds goals. They didn't deserve either of them.

Posted 14:10 4th November 2007

Simon Templar (Arsenal fan) says...

Fergie saying we played route one football?? I like the sound of that. it shows that we've learned to incorporate every aspect of football into our game in order to win. although it's hard to understand how u are suposed to score goals if u dont get the bal in t he box. explain that one fergie. As for refereees being influenced at the emirates; about time u had the table turned on u, and as usual it tasted a bit sour didn't it, fergie boy? live with it. I thought the game was well referred, and what goes round comes around, ie hleb's 'supposed' shove to the ground in the build up to the the first goal, didn't think it was a foul either. Just accept it, this team has a never say die attitude, and I beleive THAT is the hallmark of champions.

Posted 13:55 4th November 2007

Lee Morris (Arsenal fan) says...

get over it fergie......u had lots of decisions go your way and also your fair share of luck ie:the first goal. Once again you have to have the final word and i agree that the FA should look into his comments. They have to take a stand now else week in week out everyone will do it and that will make a referees job harder than what it already is. Fergie i think u should give your defenders the hair dryer treatment after twice losing the lead at the emirates yestarday.

Posted 12:15 4th November 2007

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