Sir Alex Ferguson on thin ice in carrying on criticism of referees

Posted Monday, January 11, 2010 by theguardian.com

Sir Alex Ferguson on thin ice in carrying on criticism of referees
Darren Fletcher of Manchester United after being sent off against Birmingham.

Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to escape sanction from the Football Association following his latest outburst against match officials after the Manchester United manager criticised Mark Clattenburg for his performance during the Premier League champions' 1-1 draw against Birmingham City on Saturday night.

The FA confirmed yesterday it was looking into Ferguson's post-match comments but it is understood the United manager is unlikely to be charged and so will not trigger the two-match touchline ban that was suspended until the end of next season.

Ferguson, who was told to treat match officials with more respect after his verbal attack on Alan Wiley in October, was furious with Clattenburg's decision to award a second yellow card to Darren Fletcher late on at St Andrew's. He described the dismissal as "absolutely ridiculous" and suggested that Clattenburg, who defended his decision to send off Fletcher, had previously been more lenient with players at other clubs.

"I've not seen a softer sending-off in a long time," Ferguson said. "It was absolutely ridiculous. I watched Mark Clattenburg when he was in charge of the Arsenal v Tottenham game [in October last year]. In that match you had to have somebody hit by an axe before there was a booking. But he sends a player off for that here. For a start he's not that kind of player. He clips the boy. The boy actually stumbles. He didn't even go down. I think it was a terribly soft sending-off, I really do."

Ferguson, who in November was given a four-match ban – half of it suspended – for his comments about Wiley not being fit enough to referee in the Premier League, would appear to be skating on thin ice with his constant criticism of officials even if he is not punished this time.

"The FA have noted Sir Alex Ferguson's comments about the match official after the Birmingham City-Manchester United match and will consider whether this is a matter for their governance and disciplinary department today," said an FA spokesman. Clattenburg, however, remains adamant that he was correct to dismiss Fletcher. The referee recalled the stern verbal warning he gave the United midfielder for dissent before issuing a first yellow card and suggested that Fletcher's foul on Cameron Jerome, in the 84th minute, was deliberate.

"It's a second yellow card," said Clattenburg. "He was bollocked for dissent and then he got cautioned for a foul and then he cynically just trips him [Jerome]."

While United flew to Doha yesterday for training until Thursday West Midlands police have confirmed that seven people were arrested after clashes between Birmingham and Manchester United supporters before and during the match.