SIR ALEX FERGUSON has been one of the fiercest critics of the FA’s disciplinary processes, as well as their match officials, but he had cause to thank them last night. The Manchester United manager again escaped a charge when Steve Bennett, the referee, made no mention of his alleged tirade in the players’ tunnel at half-time during Saturday’s defeat by Manchester City.
Witnesses claim that Ferguson subjected Bennett to a fearsome rant when United went in 2-0 down at the interval, calling him a “f***ing cheating b*****d” and telling Bennett that he would “need a police escort out of here at full time”. However, an FA spokesman confirmed last night that Bennett had not included details of any such incident in his official report — nor of Wayne Rooney kicking a dressing-room door — and that, as such, there was “nothing on which we would base a disciplinary action”.
It is the third time in five weeks that the FA’s disciplinary department has learnt of an incident involving Ferguson and the third time that he has escaped censure.
It scrutinised his comments when he claimed after a 1-1 draw at home to Everton on December 11 that “there’s no way Rob Styles was ever going to give us a penalty” and decided that his statement, while provocative, did not merit a charge. Likewise, after a 2-2 draw away to Birmingham City on December 28, when he accused Howard Webb, the referee, of allowing his judgment to be swayed by the home team’s supporters.
Some may feel that Ferguson’s luck is in at present, but the United manager is not likely to agree. He is understood to be angry at the coverage of Saturday’s incident, claiming that his exchange with Bennett was “blown out of proportion”, in which case he will not enjoy opening his newspapers this morning to reports of a confrontation on the training ground between Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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Such altercations are nothing new in football — and certainly nothing new in the case of Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo, who have been known to have cross words on the pitch as well as behind closed doors — but claims of a heated exchange between two of United’s most high-profile players are particularly unwelcome for Ferguson at a time when his authority over the team is coming under greater scrutiny.
Of more concern, perhaps, is Ronaldo’s indiscipline on the field with his red card for a reckless challenge on Andrew Cole during the 3-1 defeat by City, which carries a three-match suspension. United contacted the FA yesterday with a claim for wrongful dismissal and a disciplinary commission will review the incident today, but while Stuart Pearce, the City manager, suggested that the tackle, which did not make contact, did not merit a sending-off, it would be a surprise were the FA to overturn Bennett’s decision.
If the red card is rescinded, Ronaldo will be free to play in tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round replay against Burton Albion, as well as the Barclays Premiership match at home to Liverpool on Sunday, although it remains to be seen whether Ferguson would consider him against Burton even if he was available. Ferguson is not expected to field many of the big-name players who were rested for the goalless draw away to Burton nine days ago, when Rooney and Ronaldo were second-half substitutes, but some senior players will be selected to minimise the risk of further embarrassment.
Nemanja Vidic, the Serbia and Montenegro defender, is likely to make his debut, having spent ten days working on his fitness. Patrice Evra, who failed to impress on his debut on Saturday, is ineligible.
DEENEY DELIGHT
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Saul Deeney is set to play in goal for Burton Albion in tomorrow’s FA Cup third-round replay away to Manchester United after agreeing to re-sign for the Nationwide Conference club until the end of the season. Nigel Clough, the Burton player-manager, had threatened to play Martin Taylor, his goalkeeping coach, at Old Trafford if Deeney did not commit himself.