Norwegian-based United fan club admits misquoting Fergie in Berba row

The words attributed to Sir Alex ignited a bitter row betwween United and Tottenham after furious chairman Daniel Levy complained to the Premier League and called Ferguson 'arrogant' after the United boss reportedly said he was confident of signing the Bulgaria striker.

But a Norwegian-based United supporters’ club has admitted it may have triggered the row by misquoting Ferguson, because they found it hard to understand his Glaswegian accent on tape.

Fuming: Daniel Levy

Scotch mist: Sir Alex Ferguson

Ferguson’s alleged remarks, which the Scot always denied making, were published on the group’s website, and later picked up by a British national newspaper.

'We are to blame for how the interview was presented. Ferguson didn’t mention the name Berbatov when he was interviewed by us,' the group’s webmaster Steinar Madsen told a Norwegian newspaper.

'I would call it a misunderstanding. It was tricky conditions for the interview. As journalists, you have probably experienced this yourself, how it is to listen to the tape afterwards. That can cause problems and Ferguson’s accent is not too easy to understand to start with.

'Ferguson confirmed that United had tabled an offer. We assumed it was Berbatov he was talking about. We might have taken it too far. A feather has become 35 hens.'

Head for heights: Dimitar Berbatov heads past West Ham last season

Levy’s outburst, in which he accused Ferguson of 'sheer arrogance' and called him 'unbelievably hypocritical', prompted a threat of legal action. Ferguson also insisted the episode would be “very embarrassing” for Spurs, since he had never made the controversial remarks.

However, Spurs said their complaint that United had deliberately unsettled Berbatov was based on more than just one article, and handed the Premier League a dossier they say contains 12 months of evidence.

Ferguson is said to want Berbatov as a sole summer signing to enhance his Premier League and Champions League winning team. Tottenham insist their prize asset is going nowhere and have reportedly already rejected one £20m-plus bid.