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Foul play from Fergie

Patrick Barclay told the Sunday Supplement the FA should throw the book at the Utd boss.

Comments (54)

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Adam Axford (Manchester United fan) says...

I think it's fair to say that all managers will complain about decision that could have gone their way when the result is not what would be desired, however i think people have over-reacted to what Sir Alex has said. Does anyone remember Jose Mourinho's comments after playing United at Old Trafford, claiming nobody can ever get a penalty there etc.. this talk is just the same as this hints all refs are biased towards us. Arsene Wenger would have been complaining if Arsenal hadn't scored in the last minute and every fan, United, Arsenal or Nuetral knows this fact. The right decision was made on the goal, but both teams played well for the point and were unlucky not to get 3. it wasn't the best performance by either side but is a better result for united as we have the home advantage in the next match. and as for the 'handball' claims, if you mean the one where it hit Clichy's arm then he hit it into Hargreaves' arm you should take up watching another sport if you think you should of had a penalty, how can someone handball it themselves then ask for handball when they kick it at another players arm, accidental or not!

Posted 12:29 5th November 2007

Joseph Kelly (Manchester United fan) says...

Arsenal fans were very disrespectful in addressing this issue. Supporting one team doesn't mean you should be biased. It was a good game though but i think Saha was fouled during the build up but that should not be capitalsed on. I dont see any reason why people are suggesting that Sir Alex should be punished. Others are saying all sort of things inorder to put pressure on the F.A to act but it will be very unfair on Sir Alex's side. To be fair enough, referees are humans and they must have sides they favour or have soft spots for but they should always remember that being a professional they should not take sides and always try to be neutral. To the United fans, be calm for the Theatre Of Dreams awaits the Gunners.

Posted 12:16 5th November 2007

Mohamed El-kholy (Manchester United fan) says...

I feel Ferguson was acting like Arsene Wenger in this comment, the referee is a human being and who may make mistakes without being biased, also making a mistake in a foul something like 70 or 80 yards away from your goal can't be the main reason that lead to the goal, the ball must have passed something like 5 or 6 United players before reaching the United box, if any of them could have cleared it (I believe Ronaldo should have cleared it) , no one would have been talking about it at all

Posted 12:12 5th November 2007

Kartik Sridhar (Manchester United fan) says...

I do not support Sir Alex regarding the comments he made against Howard Webb. I think the referee had a good game overall. But i do agree with Sir Alex when he says the Arsenal fans were very hostile. To cite an incident , when Ryan Giggs went over to take United's 2nd or 3rd corner kick, there was a lady who was constantly making a sigle finger gesture towards him. Not many would have noticed the incident. But if replays are viewed, the incident can be clearly seen. It was quite shocking to see that. Especially towards a player of Gigg's stature,who's work ethics are of the highest order and who is a role model for any aspiring footballer.

Posted 11:56 5th November 2007

Andrew Lampard (Arsenal fan) says...

This 'banter' between opposing fans is somewhat amusing. I have read ONE thread by a fan of EITHER teamthat actually had some solidity and credibility to it as opposed to just criticising the other team, whoever that may be. Issues will always arise when the big teams clash, maybe Fergie is playing his usual 'mind games'. Who knows. What I do know is that Wenger certainly is not perfect and at times, when he has criticised, I have been embarassed and desperate for him to stop. This is what will happen when managers are interviewed just after a game, tensions are running high and they would still be emotional about some decisions - so we can hardly expect a thought out, neutral answer to a question. I do not believe that the book should be thrown at Sir Alex, after all, I think what he said has been blown out of all proportion. After the big teams meet, everything is exaggerated. Yes there were some 'questionable' decisions, but these will even themselves out as the season progresses. So lets stop moaning at eachother, and just continue to enjoy the football that BOTH teams play - it should be a good title race!

Posted 11:34 5th November 2007

Stan Jones (Manchester United fan) says...

How can Aresenal supporters call Fergie a hypocrite etc., when they have the biggest hypocrite in Wenger? As for John Smith's comments -where was Fabregas in the first half? Sour grapes. I agree that Anderson was out of order with his imaginary card and rolling over. The ref did favour Arsenal with some decisions -look at the card count. Evra got slaughtered but Aresenal got away with it. Anderson got caught by two players -did they get booked?

Posted 11:17 5th November 2007

Bill Murtagh says...

Mr Barclay go buy yourslf a rug because there is air getting to your brain. This is what you said '"I didn't actually hear what Fergie said, but if he said Howard Webb was biased towards Arsenal. How can you make accusations when you didn't hear what was said? ALL managers rant and rave about decisions directly after the game. My view was good game, NOT GREAT, fair result

Posted 11:11 5th November 2007

Gareth Mckeown (Liverpool fan) says...

Strange to see Fergie complaining about a foul on Saha that led to Arsenals 2nd goal when MOTD 2 showed last night that there was around 1.5 minutes between that and the goal, which included a goal kick from Van Der Sar!!!! Get a grip!

Posted 11:03 5th November 2007

Richard Jones (Manchester United fan) says...

I thought the ref had a poor game to be honest, compared to what high standards he set himself. Slthough he got all the major decisions right, he was a bit picky. A good point for United though, should take all three at OT. Think United will be the happier of the two sides as they have the home match to come. Verdict: United to romp the League again!

Posted 09:52 5th November 2007

Neil David (Arsenal fan) says...

Did you see the interview with Carlos Queiros. He said the complete opposite to Fergie. Good atmosphere, ref did well and good game. Need to get their stories straight. All managers moan about decisions and I include Mr Wenger in that but Fergie has got away with it, and I mean by not being punished, for many, many years. The Saha foul happened two minutes before the goal. If I replayed the United goals I'm sure I could go back and find a foul that wasn't given a few minutes previously. Fergie should make a public apology to Webb or be fined but we all know neither will happen.

Posted 09:52 5th November 2007

John Smith (Arsenal fan) says...

Fergie is the biggest hypocrite in football! Always moaning when he doesn't get his way. He knows his team got played off the park and now he's just making excuses for his failure. I thought Man U were lucky. Anderson should've been sent off for a headbutt, not to mention all the diving (which surprisingly no-one seemed to mention) and there were plenty of theatrics from Ronaldo as well. Fergie should be happy his side got a draw because it could've been worse. Arsenal completley dominated, at times I had completely forgotten Tevez was even playing, and as for Hargreaves..... he looked out of his depth at time, poor guy was lost against Fabregas and Hleb. That's why he had to come out today and lie about who is better; he thinks Man U play the best football, that it's hard to agree with him when they had all their men in their own half defending for large porportions of game!! Man U crack me up with their sour grapes!

Posted 09:51 5th November 2007

Josiah Mugambi (Arsenal fan) says...

Sometimes I wonder if there's anything to argue about. Arsenal fans will always have a different opinion from Man U fans... I don't usually bother. May be we should get a neutral's opinion on the refereeing :) I only watched half the game so I can't give a good opinion

Posted 09:42 5th November 2007

G H says...

This is what happens when a manager is questioned just minutes after a dramatic finish. Personally I felt that Webb was a little too quick to book a couple of United players in the first half, whilst letting similar offences go for Fabregas and Clichy. Having said that he had a good game, and Ferguson's comments are off the mark. From what I can gather, though, his words were that Webb at times "Favoured" Arsenal, which doesn't suggest any accusation of bias to me. Ferguson has made himself look a little silly, in my opinion, but certainly hasn't brought the integrity of the referee or the sport into question, therefore he should not be punished.

Posted 09:38 5th November 2007

John Jang (Arsenal fan) says...

How can you say Fergie's allowed to complain because others complain against you guys? Just watch the game again and then think about the integrity of his complaint and you'll see how stupid it is. And the foul on Saha? Gee, there were like five plays between the time the whistle blew on Saha and Gallas' goal. Don't make us talk about the handball incident which could have gone either way. Fergie wants to lower our confidence because he is scared we'll be unstoppable. He's used a very poor technique and he's been found out. FA action would definitely be justified.

Posted 09:35 5th November 2007

Brent Hinman (Brentford fan) says...

Listen to everyone have a go at Sir Alex Ferguson. More often than not, its other managers bemoaning about how Manchester United are favoured when their teams go to Old Trafford. Finally the shoe is on the other foot and everyone has a go at Fergie. You fans (mainly Arsenal ones who are complaining) should take a long hard look at yourselves in the mirror and stop your whinging, you're starting to sound hypocritical of Fergie voicing his opinion just like you are.

Posted 05:40 5th November 2007

Mike Boulton (Manchester United fan) says...

Referees DO get a lot of stick but maybe it is time to pay them a decent wage so that they don't need another job and they concentrate 100% on football. It is definitely time to bring in video refs and maybe younger refs too, they have to keep up with play at both ends of the pitch, so maybe the refs should be 25-35 or perhaps 2 on the pitch at a time. Players should be stopped from talking to the ref like they do in rugby only the captain gets to air their gripes. As for Fergie, Saha was fouled and it should have been a free kick but Man U should have shut up shop for the 3 mins of extra time and sat with 6 defenders not letting the opposition anywhere near our goal. Great game though, can't wait for the home game!!!

Posted 17:04 4th November 2007

Clive Hutchby (Arsenal fan) says...

Interesting thoughts from Patrick Barclay. He's right about Fergie totally over-reacting, but wrong about Webb's "flawless" performance. Didn't Barclay (on his press box video minitor) see the blatant shirt tug by Vidic on Hleb in the first half that should have been punished for a penalty? The previous week at Anfield Webb missed Carragher's "Lescott-style" foul on Fabregas in the box, so Webb has 'previous'. Didn't Barclay see Wes Brown's clear push on Hleb in the builkd-up to the first Manchester United goal? I've never seen a clearer foul, and Webb was in a perfect position to give it. So why didn't he? Who knows? The whole world saw it.

Posted 17:02 4th November 2007

Simon Stibbons (Arsenal fan) says...

I was at the game yesterday and thought about the only really poor decision was not sending Evra off for a second bookable offence. How can Fergie complain when his players were feigning injury to try and waste time (spirit of champions) and getting up as soon as Webb told them to get off the pitch. As for the fans - United have one of the worst records for arrests at their matches and Arsenal have one of the best. You can't legislate for idiots like him moaning about everything and he is always the biggest trouble maker in these fixture, bar none!! Get a life Fergie!!

Posted 16:37 4th November 2007

Matt Harrison (Aston Villa fan) says...

For Fergie to say that it's hard to go to the Emirates and get decisions is ridiculous. The intimidatory atmosphere for officials at Old Trafford has been one of the cornerstones of United's success in the Premier League and we have all seen numerouso long it is just accepted now as part and parcel of a visit to United. This is typical petulant, bullying Ferguson, a man who gets away with far too much in terms of his conduct and this time his stature in the game should be ignored and he should be adequately punished. Really good game, really well refereed and played (bar Ferdinand and van der Saar at the end) in a really good spirit. Fergie should have let the football be the main talking point but he is just too used to being above the law.

Posted 16:30 4th November 2007

Mike Claydon (Arsenal fan) says...

I was at the match. It was a great exhibition of how football should be played. But Fergie, despite is 21 years in football, is very petty in complaining about the performance of the referree. If anything it should be Arsenal complaining because of the decisions that went against the team and the foul on Hleb by Vidic which did not lead to a penalty. Perahps Fergie should follow the lead of Arsene Wenger and NOT compalin about the referee. Or perhaps Fergie is just too old to change his ways and should retire gracefully!

Posted 15:39 4th November 2007

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