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Sir Alex Ferguson referee row could be heading to court
Andy Hodgson13 Nov 2009
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may face legal action for his outspoken attack on referee Alan Wiley.
Ferguson was handed a four-match ban yesterday - with two suspended - but that may not be the end of the matter.
Alan Leighton, national secretary of referees' union Prospect, said there was a possibility they could still sue Ferguson after he claimed the official "just wasn't fit enough" to take charge of United's 2-2 draw with Sunderland last month.
"One of the things we are asking is whether these comments are defamatory," he added. "I intend to talk to Alan Wiley to see if he wants to sue on the issue.
"We need to take a few steps back and see what has happened here and I would like to see more about the judgement.
"We never wanted to get lawyers involved but if referees don't feel they are being protected by the regulatory bodies and someone says something defamatory, sooner or later someone is going to take action over it.
"We are going to talk to the relevant authorities to see what it means for the future.
"I'll also talk to our members. There will be a concern this isn't an appropriate way to send a message that these comments were unacceptable."
Ferguson's ban means he will miss matches at home to Everton and away at Portsmouth.
His punishment also includes a further two-match ban, suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season, and a £20,000 fine.
But Leighton believes the authorities missed an opportunity to make a statement to back up the Football Association's Respect campaign.
"From our point of view, it is disappointing. The FA had a chance to make a point and they flunked it," he added.
Reader views (9)
Leighton is completely out of his depth. United's pockets are far deeper than that of his two-bit union. And how Earth would a law suit benefit Alan Wiley? The problem is that referees are constantly seen as not up to the job. Leighton should concentrate his ire on the objection to video technology which would make his members' job so much easier. This situation gets worse with every week. Millions of pounds and thousands of jobs are at stake on the questionable ability of referees. Leighton is completely negligent in not forcing this issue rather than fostering a petty squabble with Ferguson.
- Jonathan Anthony, Haslemere, 13/11/2009 16:19
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Jealousy and spite always abound from the ABUs! SAF apologised politically because it was the path of least resistance when dealing with the small-minded idiots at the FA who care more about their ticket allocations than the good of the game. The truth is that Wiley IS now too old and too slow to referee top level football and he was well away from too many of the key actions in the Sunderland game which is perfectly clear to anyone who watches the recording critically. Get it straight, SAF is the most successful manager in world football and is a giant compared to all of these Oompa Loopas, including the nobody Alan Leighton seeking pubilicity off the back of the great man. Modern TV shows the ever more error prone refs up to being too fallible too often and Leighton should be calling for his members to be better supported, not by ignoring all their errors, but by bringing in modern TV technology, at least as good as Rugby League, to reduce their negative impact on the game and stop them looking so foolish.
Henry Winter has written the only intelligent piece on this subject and the weight of opinion in this matter is no more meaningful than the weight of numbers prepared to attest to quality of the Emporer's New Clothes.
- Barry1858, Welwyn, 13/11/2009 15:43
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Whatever next, thousands of football fans being sued for singing "You're not fit to wear the shirt?"
And is that actually a United fan from Manchester posting below?!?!
- Kc, Upminster, 13/11/2009 15:37
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What agenda has Leighton got? Where was he, Winter, and Hackett, when Wenger and Mourinho were regularly calling linesmen and Referee's cheats and liars which were much more serious and damaging accusations than calling someone fat or unfit. I'd like to know what Leighton though of Winters view, that he wouldn't be surprised to see a lot more penalties being awarded against Man United bscause of Fergusons attitude towards refs. So, winter is allowed to say that in print with no reprecussions. It begs the qusetion, how many teams and players suffered becauses of Winters grudges when he was refereeing? When was the last time you saw a Breathless bunty man like wiley taking charge of a an Italian or spanish fotball match?The answer is never. A butchers dog wiley aint, the butchers wife more like.
- James Hennessy, Manchester England, 13/11/2009 14:46
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Gareth you miss the point badly, as is often the want of football supporters.
a law suit for defamation is a serious matter, and is about public comments. Ferguson might struggle to defend the validity considering as he has already been found guilty and apologised.
- Scotty, London, 13/11/2009 11:19
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Gareth you are right, and as objective and fair and eloquent as practically all other United-fans.
Maybe the FA should give him a medal, write a letter of appology for imposing injustice on him, and give him a blank check enabling him to abuse or attack any referee he wishes witha red face with foul-mouthed tirades.
Or maybe "Sir" is not enough, and other titles may be good; I got one:
How about "Maffia Don"?
- Craig, Guildford, 13/11/2009 11:14
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I think the time is fast approaching when the powers that be at Old Trafford will sack this Knight with feet of clay. He has tarnished the name of football (probably a contradiction in terms) by his incessant belligerence, boorishness and bad sportsmanship, and should go.
- Ted, London, 13/11/2009 11:00
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If they take it court where would this stop.
Clubs suing referees for negligence.
The system is in place to deal with such issues and the issue has been dealt with, Mr Leighton clearly is clueless.
That said Ferguson's comments were justified and fair comment - a defence I believe.
- Gareth, London, 13/11/2009 10:31
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"The FA had a chance to make a point and they flunked it", you say Mr. Leighton?
No, look, they DID take the chance by saying
"Each member of the commission recognised Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements and stature within the game," the chairman, Peter Griffiths, said.
Fantatstic. Ferguson and Gill totally manipulate the FA in front of the entire football community, and there isn't a thing anyone can do about it! Shameful!
- Craig, Guildford, 13/11/2009 09:48
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