Referees union urges Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson to apologise for Atkinson rant
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been urged to aplogise for his recent criticism of referee Martin Atkinson. A trade union representing referees has called for the United boss to take back his comments against Atkinson.
Ferguson was incensed with the match official for a number of allegedly questionable decisions during Manchester United’s crucial Premier League encounter against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in the week. Sir Alex believed that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Luiz-c10542 should have
been sent off for a challenge on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wayne-Rooney-c36736 late in the second half. He also blasted Atkinson for awarding a ‘soft’ penalty to Chelsea in the final ten minutes – a decision which ultimately cost Manchester United the match.
United went on to lose 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, and Sir Alex was quick to blame referee Martin Atkinson for the defeat.
Speaking after the match, Ferguson accused the match official of being biased towards http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786. He said, “You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway - and we didn't get that. I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst."
Unsurprisingly, the United boss’ comments have landed him in trouble once again. Ferguson could be charged for improper conduct by the Football Association (FA). Alan Leighton, the national secretary of the union Prospect, believes that the issue would be
best resolved if Sir Alex Ferguson just apologised for his remarks.
Leighton said, “The idea you can have referees who are biased towards one side or another, at any level, is one that causes great damage to the game. Referees will make mistakes but they make them because they are human beings. By saying they didn't have
a fair referee, Sir Alex Ferguson is saying that Martin Atkinson was favouring one team or another.”
He added, “If Sir Alex didn't mean that it would be very simple for him to say so and it would clear the issue up. The sensible thing to move this on would be an apology."
Ferguson has already been charged with improper conduct by the FA. He has until 4 pm on Tuesday, 8 March, to respond.
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