Time for Sir Alex Ferguson to zip it up

The Scotsman has long had a reputation for – rightly or wrongly – speaking out against what he sees as injustices against his team, but he should really listen to the advice of fellow Labour supporter Denis Healey’s first law on holes: “when you’re in one, stop digging!”

I recently supported his right to comment on the fitness of Alan Wiley.

I feel his comments were totally blown out of proportion and twisted to be something other than what he intended, which unfortunately meant his gripe with Wiley’s time-keeping – a valid and important point – fell entirely off the radar.

Calling a referee’s fitness into question is one thing, rhetorically asking whether an official who is on FIFA’s international list is “experienced enough” to handle a Liverpool–Man United fixture while referring to some of the calls that didn’t go his way, is nothing more than a veiled pot-shot at the man.

Whether it be out of frustration or his heart-felt opinion, it is a comment that has no place in the public domain.

One has to wonder, what is Sir Alex thinking? Surely he can see he is getting himself into a war of words that he cannot possibly win?

In his two decades in English football, he has riled many people, and his ongoing “feuds” have been with everyone from players and managers to ground staff and the FA.

He’s never been one to shy away from confrontation, but it is this brash, even arrogant attitude, that is now causing problems, not only for himself, but for the club he represents.

For the first time in his esteemed Manchester United career, Ferguson can expect a gag-order from the powers that be as they go into damage control trying to maintain healthy relationships with decision makers both on and off the field.

Part of this damage control was pleading guilty to the improper conduct charge levelled at him by the FA for his comments on Wiley’s fitness. But after his most recent outburst, another “please explain” is more than likely already in the mail.

The real problem here is that any fine will be pocket change and a touchline ban a matter of inconvenience. Hence, it’s possible the referees will start “taking it into their own hands”.

Or have they already?

Indeed, this is what Ferguson may have been getting at after the loss on Merseyside.

He obviously thought that the referees were out to frustrate United and be as supportive of the Liverpool cause as possible. His accusation that Marriner lacked the experience to handle the situation was – in my opinion – a reaction to what he deemed unfair and biased officiating.

Of course, referees are in a position with a certain amount of power attached and while we would all like to think they are a morally superior group of people, they are human.

I’m sure every football fan in the world would have sensed bias in one match or another.

I’m not claiming there was a pow-wow, where the referees discussed a strategic vendetta against Ferguson and his United team. But with his constant haranguing and kidney-punching in the press of late, he must expect some sort of retaliation.

These “insults” work on a subconscious level, a part of the mind we don’t understand but accept as being real.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if United don’t get a penalty for the rest of the season or if they draw some short straws with some decisions as the season progresses. But if that’s the case, they’ll have no-one else but Ferguson to blame.

Ferguson might truly believe that Marriner isn’t expierenced enough, he may think he’s a terrible referee and he won’t want to back down. But for the good of his club, he must swallow his pride.