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Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager banned from the touchline earlier in the season for abusing a referee, has demanded players start respecting match officials.
Ferguson claims to have turned his United players into model professionals after an unsavory incident eight years ago.
But after seeing Chelsea’s petulance and protests on Wednesday night, Ferguson said he is angered by hotheaded players haranguing referees.
During Wednesday’s 4-4 draw at Tottenham, Chelsea defender Ashley Cole turned his back on Mike Riley while being booked for a reckless challenge and was assisted in his dissent by teammates John Terry and Frank Lampard, darting to challenge the referee.
“Respect the referee,” Ferguson said Friday. “The haranguing of referees is ridiculous.”
The Scottish disciplinarian insists United epitomises gracious behavior on the pitch since an official was mobbed in 2000 by players infuriated by a penalty awarded against them.
“We had a pivotal moment some years ago when my players surrounded Andy D’Urso,” Ferguson recalled on Friday. “I went off my head with them about that. I thought it was ridiculous and it never happened again.
“We tell them to shake the hand of the referee at the end of the game when it’s finished. It’s sometimes difficult but they have to do it.”
Chelsea has been fined twice this season by the Football Association for failing to control its players on the pitch.
In December, Ferguson – aggrieved at challenges on Patrice Evra – was banned from the dugout for two matches and fined 5,000 pounds ($A11,000) for using abusive and/or insulting words toward referee Mark Clattenburg during a 1-0 defeat at Bolton.
In 2003, Ferguson was also banned for two games and fined 10,000 pounds ($A22,000) after verbally attacking referee Jeff Winter.
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