Man Utd boss Ferguson risks more controversy after questioning ref in Liverpool defeat

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson questioned the experience of ref Andre Marriner after defeat at Liverpool.

Ferguson is already facing disciplinary action for his 'unfit' attack on Alan Wiley after his side's draw against Sunderland three weeks ago, but it did not stop him turning his anger on Marriner after a 2-0 win for Liverpool at Anfield.

Seething at key decisions that went against United, when Michael Carrick was denied a penalty and Jamie Carragher escaped with a yellow card for hauling down Michael Owen on the edge of the area, Ferguson said: "It is a very difficult atmosphere here. There was a wounded animal aspect to the game, and it was something we didn't overcome. I think it affected our players, and it affected the referee.

"This sort of atmosphere is hard to handle for a referee. Whether he had enough experience or not, I don't know, but he will certainly learn from it.

"We lost out to one or two major decisions. It was a clear penalty kick, when Carragher went right over the top of the ball on Carrick. The referee was only six yards from it, and it was a bad decision.

"But the one everyone will be talking about was when Carragher brought Owen down on the edge of the box. The laws of the game were altered to prevent professional fouls of that nature. Carragher is their best player and captain, and if he goes, it is a different game.

"The referee was only four or five yards from that one, so he can't use a covering defender as an excuse. Michael was clean through and, with his pace, he is going to get away from him.

"Their fans were fanatical, and they put the referee under pressure all the time. With every decision, it was the same."

He added: "Liverpool were the better team and deserved to win, but there were so many controversial things that happened, we have to feel aggrieved at some of them."

Apology not enough as refs seek action against Man Utd's Ferguson

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson may still be charged by the FA over comments made about ref Alan Wiley.


The Mail on Sunday says Ferguson yesterday interrupted a holiday in New York to apologise to Wiley, whom he branded as not fit enough to referee a Premier League game, following last Saturday's 2-2 draw against Sunderland.

However, Alan Leighton, the head of the union which represents referees, insisted that Ferguson's surprise move had only made things worse and the Football Association should still punish him severely.

Leighton, national secretary of Prospect, the professionals' union which represents referees, said: "If anything, what Sir Alex Ferguson has said makes things worse. The FA should charge him and take serious action against him.

"He's apologised for causing embarrassment to Alan Wiley, but not for calling him an unfit referee. In addition he has extrapolated it to being an issue about referees in general in England being unfit.

"I think he's bringing the game into disrepute. The FA's own disciplinary rules talk about four types of offence in public comments. 'The implication of bias does not apply, but by questioning Alan Wiley's fitness he has questioned the integrity of another participant. The rules also say personally offensive comments should be avoided.

"And to suggest that we've got unfit referees in general is to the detriment of the game as a whole because it damages the confidence of fans, players and everyone else involved in the game."