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Wallace: doesn't mind mind games

In terms of managers trying to influence referees and plant little seeds of doubt in their minds, that's been going on since time memoriam.

Sam Wallace
Quotes of the week

Sam Wallace laughed off claims that managerial mind games are ruining the game.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez are among those who have been given a public ticking off by Football Association chairman Lord Triesman this week.

Benitez claims that his Manchester United counterpart has been putting pressure on referee Steve Bennett ahead of the Grand Slam Sunday showdown at Old Trafford.

Lord Triesman warned managers not to use their power and position to try and influence officials, but while he was full of admiration for the new FA supremo's actions, Wallace believes it is unlikely to change much having seen Ferguson and his peers speak out regularly.

"To be fair, Sir Alex Ferguson says this every week about Ronaldo. I'd say he's probably got a point to be honest, he does get kicked because he's the best player in the league.

"In terms of managers trying to influence referees and plant little seeds of doubt in their minds, that's been going on since time memoriam.

"I remember when England played Andorra at home - the biggest gimme of all time - Steve McCalre said 'you've got to watch this lot, the ref's got to be forceful here because they will kick us'. And to be fair they did!

"The interesting thing about Steve Bennett is that I actually quite like him. He has the notion of an old school referee, a public school house master. I don't know him but i'd bet he doesn't have any contact with the players and I could be wring, but I can't see him calling Ashley Cole by his first name.

"The big problem Fergie has with him is that he's sent Ronaldo off twice before, including this season at Portsmouth.

"I don't see any reason why a manager would be indignant about another manager trying to influence a referee because it seems they're all at it anyway."

Wallace though was happy to applaud Lord Triesman for trying at least.

He has been very vocal in his bid to clean up football's image this week and although he was not overly-confident of managers and players toeing the line immediately, The Independent's football writer is delighted to see an improvement in the corridors of power.

"The one thing I will say for Lord Triesman is that he's been the FA chairman for a few months and he's already said and done more than Geoffrey Thompson did in nine years!" he said.

"At least he's trying to do something. He's stuck his neck out, he's got an opinion and he's not afraid to talk about the big names in football - which is a hell of a lot more than Thompson ever did."

To see what the Supplement panel made of the Ferguson-Benitez fall-out and Lord Triesman's criticism, click on the video icon at the top-right of the page...