Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated his ongoing disaffection with the Football Association by accusing the governing body of an “unfair” focus on Manchester United’s disciplinary issues and vowing to continue to “defend my club”.
Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated his ongoing disaffection with the Football Association by accusing the governing body of an “unfair” focus on Manchester United’s disciplinary issues and vowing to continue to “defend my club”.
Following a season in which Ferguson was given a five-match touchline ban for criticising referee Martin Atkinson and Wayne Rooney banned for two games for swearing into a television camera, the 69 year-old has echoed recent comments by Manchester United chief executive David Gill.
“I think sometimes there is an unfair focus on United on disciplinary issues,” Ferguson said in Chicago, where United are on the latest leg of their American tour. “It will always be there and I think we know that. I don’t really know whether it’s about me or the club, that’s a difficult one, but I think that [resentment] has got something to do with it.
“They’ve certainly always found a way to treat us differently. It has been happening for a while now and they always seem to find a way to do us when, with others, it’s seemingly forgotten.”
The FA has insisted clubs such as United are made aware that greater prominence brings with it greater responsibility, a stance which points to heavier punishment for high-profile incidents. But Ferguson claims United are too often the victim of the FA’s readiness to be directed by media influence.
He said: “Personally, I felt hard done by last season. I defend my club, but that’s my job, yet part of the problem is that when I make comments, the media are onto the FA right away and there is no doubt about that. Then they feel forced to do something and they are afraid of what might happen if they don’t.”
Ferguson, who is continuing to monitor Wesley Sneijder’s situation at Inter Milan, has also expressed doubt about whether Manchester City will find any club willing to pay their asking price for Carlos Tévez.
“I think it’s a certainty Tévez will start the season at City because you look around and wonder who is going to buy him,” he said. “I’m not sure Inter Milan would pay £45 million especially after he’s said he wants to go back to Argentina to see his kids.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola said Ferguson is the number one coach in the world. United were outplayed last May by a rampant Barcelona, who had United chasing shadows for the majority of their 3-1 Champions League final victory at Wembley Stadium. Guardiola said the dominance of his all-conquering Catalans should not detract from Ferguson’s trophy-laden reign at United.
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