FA tight-lipped on Fergie

But Triesman thinks bosses should refrain from commenting on referees

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 8th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

FA tight-lipped on Fergie

Ferguson: Asked to explain

If you ask me to start commenting on a case which is in front of a court and I did, you would think, 'this guy has lost his marbles'.

FA chairman Lord Triesman
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Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has refused to comment on potential disciplinary action against Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson in the wake of his outburst at referee Alan Wiley.

Ferguson has been asked to explain himself by the FA after he aired his belief that Wiley was not physically fit to take charge of last weekend's late draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford.

With the FA attempting to promote a Respect programme in football, which is now in its second season, the United boss could be facing a possible touchline ban and a fine for his controversial comments.

However, while a regulatory authority continues to investigate the incident, Triesman has declined to give his view on whether Ferguson should be reprimanded.

"I am not going to talk about a case which is in our process," Triesman told Sky Sports News.

Opinion

"It would be like talking about a court case in the middle of the process. I don't think that is right and I don't think it helps."

He added: "I won't go into the case. If you ask me to start commenting on a case which is in front of a court and I did, you would think, 'this guy has lost his marbles'.

"The football regulatory authority is a quasi-independent, in quotes, 'court in football'. That is exactly what it is."

Triesman, though, does not deem it correct for managers to give their opinion on the performance of referees, either before or after a match.

"I don't think that managers should ever comment on the impartiality of referees," he said.

Difficult

"I don't think that it is ever right for them to say things in advance of a game which is going to be difficult.

"Broadly speaking, it is well worth looking at the hard data of referees because often they have been exemplary."

Despite the events of last weekend, which also saw Blackburn chief Sam Allardyce criticise match officials after his side were thumped 6-2 by Arsenal, Triesman believes Respect is having an impact.

"The Respect programme is showing some very healthy signs in grass roots football and, I think, in the professional leagues as well," he said.

"For the most part, referees have been saying that.

"Do we have a bad weekend from time to time? Well, yes. Will we need to make sure we press on? Yes."

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Comments (10)

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Sarah Squires (Liverpool fan) says...

I agree that ref's should be accountable for their actions, but based on past decisions surely the FA has no choice but to severley repremand Fergie. Criticising a decision is one thing but to personally attack someone is just not on, what example is that setting to youth players? As adults we are taught to challenge the behaviour not the person. Why should Fergie be above this? He has no respect for any other human being and thinks he is above the law. The FA need to prove this is not the case. All other managers will be watching their response to this so they have to get it right.

Posted 16:38 8th October 2009

Joe Francis (Leeds United fan) says...

Well, the FA certainly needs to make major improvements in every aspect of OUR organisation. Currently it is letting us down badly and has done so for decades. The media and public can take care of criticising referee's. (If FIFA got its act together we'd have more technology to support at least the Premiership Ref's in getting it right more often) . But, there is simply no excuse for one-eyed managers lambasting the referee and encouraging their players to surround the ref and question decisions at every opportunity. It is obvious that Ferguson especially deliberately intimidates officials. It is a disgrace that has to stop... NOW!

Posted 16:37 8th October 2009

Andy Shao (Manchester United fan) says...

i think the referee nust be criticised,sometimes they make mistakes,why should they not be criticised?How are they going to learn they havve made mistake or not. More than that they are not angels they are human being,i thinh its not bad to be criticised,afterall not all referees are criticised

Posted 16:32 8th October 2009

Daniel Richardson-foster (Arsenal fan) says...

Look Alex gets away with everything. The F.A will do F.A about it anyway because it's Sir Alex. I think football should take a leaf out of the book of rugby the ref is the boss, mess with and you pay the price. In rugby you lose round if you back chat the ref and he can send you off too. Rugby has so much more respect for the refs for such rough, hard full blooded sport with big powerful players the ref is the boss and that what refs should be in football the boss and players should act like gentlemen . Alex just thinks he is bigger then anyone in football. i say give him a touchline ban for the rest of the season.

Posted 16:28 8th October 2009

Gareth Parry (Southampton fan) says...

I can't believe anyone would defend Ferguson's comments. The referee is there to impartially uphold the rules of the game. To give the kind of personal abuse that Ferguson did (and does regularly during games) to the officials is indefensible and leads to referees being abused every week at grass roots level. I'm guessing the previous comments came from the sort of fans who go to the grounds and hurl tirades of personal abuse themselves. The FA's respect campaign isn't working.

Posted 16:25 8th October 2009

David Lewis (Leeds United fan) says...

I would think Sir Alex would be better suited trying to improve the movement and fitness of Owen and Berbatov. If he (Berbatov) got up and down as much as most refs He might not need to worry about refs being close to the action.

Posted 16:21 8th October 2009

Dave Hunter (Newcastle United fan) says...

The book should be thrown at Ferguson, he thinks he runs the game not the FA. If he gets away with this we may as well give MUFC the Premier trophy at the beging of the season.

Posted 16:18 8th October 2009

Ian Sinclair (Manchester United fan) says...

I think Lord Triesman should do post match interviews for Rafa... This guy know's how to handle criticism and shoot down the press.

Posted 16:10 8th October 2009

James Varnham (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

This is ridiculous! I'm all for respecting the referee's, but if players can be criticized by other players / managers / the fa / uefa/ you name it... what makes the referee so special not to have criticism aimed at him?? The FA should spend their time (and our money) on making sure that the referee's are fit to do the job that they're paid to do, instead of conducting a witch hunt against anyone that says anything ever so slightly controversial!

Posted 15:24 8th October 2009

Joe Gwedeza (Manchester United fan) says...

THE FA ARE RUN LIKE A DICTATORSHIP ,PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS .THAT'S THE WAY THEY MAKE THIER MONEY, RESPECT!! TEACH THE REFS. RESPECT FIRST SO THEY CAN APOLOGISE WHEN THEY MESS UP, AS THEY OFTEN DO THESE DAYS THEN .

Posted 15:14 8th October 2009
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