It's time for the FA to crack down on Fergie

It was an evenly poised encounter at White Hart Lane on Sunday evening, with Tottenham Hotspur chasing the game having gone 1-0 down to Manchester United courtesy of Robin van Persie's first half header.

With the Premier League pace setters looking to see out the encounter, Sir Alex Ferguson threw Wayne Rooney into the action in order to add some tenacity and grit into the middle of the park. The England international, during his time on the pitch, at one point looked to have been clipped by Spurs' Steven Caulker in the 18 yard box it what adjudged by referee Chris Foy to not have been a penalty.

The official closest to the action at the time was linesman Simon Beck, who like Foy, felt Rooney hadn't warranted the penalty, despite replay's suggesting he had been clipped by his compatriot. As a result, Ferguson took to his post-match interview with a view to criticising the Beck, dubbing his performance “shocking”, insisting the vistors “never got anything from that side of the pitch” before adding that Beck was the man who didn't rule out Didier Drogba's winner at Old Trafford during Chelsea's push for the title two-and-a-half years ago.

Unsurprisingly, Ferguson was pulled up for his comments, with the Football Association asking the veteran Scot to explain himself and has until 6pm Thursday evening to respond. Regardless of any plea of innocence from the United boss, it's hight time the FA clamped down on the 71-year-old.

Too many times Ferguson has made comments bearing a striking resemblance to his outburst on Sunday evening, but never been substantially punished for doing so. This time, however, he deserves to be made an example of.

The United boss' sporadic acts of controversy consistently undermine the performances of referee's and linesmen and women, who are naturally going to make mistakes – they are only human after all. A fitting punishment is deserving of Ferguson, be it a hefty fine or a touchline ban, but the FA need to ensure that this time his remarks aren't simply swept under the carpet, much like they have been in the past.  

Follow @BenMcAleer1

Comments

[TOTNAM]

He needs to get a lengthy touchline ban and a hefty fine. If any other manager were to do what he does then they would get them. How about his remonstrations with the referee on the pitch two weeks ago. Either he stops it or he gets it. Probably needs to lay off the bottle as well!

[ian coburn]

When you get as many decisions going for you as UTD do its no good moaning when one goes againist you.

[Archie]

Seriously, so ignorant, did fergie not get a 5 match ban like a couple of years ago, also did allardyce not blast the officials after the cup match, not one thing said, in fact it more said about the decision that he referred to and how he was right, which he was, and so was fergie this time, crack down on officials, and ad for the newcastle outburst fair enuf, but how many times does fergie do that, compare him to wenger or mancini, especially the latter, who loves an altercation with the forth official

[SSG]

Archie (and like minded sorts) The point is not whether Fergus was correct in claiming a penalty. The point is Fergo is basically saying the linesman is biased against ManU and that was why he didn't give it. That is questioning the official's integrity and you can't do it. If he'd have said he felt the linesman got it wrong, then no problem. Claiming he is dishonest is a problem. See the difference?

[Ben]

He does this knowing that next time he is likely to get the decision. He knows that making statements like he did will have no affect on what has just happened. The FA allowing him to continue making statements like this is giving him free reign to bully and manipulate match officials in the future. About time it stopped!

[aa]

Ban him for life. he is just a chewing gum eater. go train horses.

[Rich]

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

Fergie is such a cry baby and disrespectful to the leaque. He has too much power and influence in the league and expects to get his way all the time. No other manager acts like him, with this air of superiority. He needs to be put in his place and shut up or retire already.

[Archie]

He was questioning the competency of the officials, n the media blow all man u decisions out proportion, he will prob get done by the fa, but they all do it (managers)and to say about time they cracked down on fergie is to say the fa are biased, but based on previous how are they, towards fergie ne way.