Post by Salem6 on Nov 3, 2003 9:25:08 GMT
over claim that FA and Arsenal did 'deals'
Denis Campbell
Sunday November 2, 2003
The Observer
Sir Alex Ferguson could be disciplined by the FA for the second time this season after accusing Soho Square of conspiring with Arsenal to give the Highbury club's players light punishments for their violent antics at Old Trafford.
The FA's already fraught relationship with Manchester United plumbed new depths of bitterness when Ferguson angrily claimed the governing body cut a secret deal with Arsenal to go easy on the miscreants involved in the stormy Premiership clash in Manchester in September. The United manager denounced the bans handed to Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown, Lauren and Ray Parlour as too lenient, accused the FA of being biased towards the north London club and claimed that Soho Square had consistently failed to get tough with the long list of Arsenal personnel who have been sent off during Arsène Wenger's seven years in charge.
The FA responded last night by saying that they will examine Ferguson's latest tirade against them very closely. Officials are particularly irked by his statement: 'It's obvious they [Arsenal] have been doing deals [with the FA] for years. Look at the number of times they've got off with charges outside of the 50-odd sending-offs they have had under Wenger. I think they have been up 10 times before the FA and have got off with eight of those. It's remarkable, very remarkable.
The FA's chief spokesman, Adrian Bevington, said: 'We refute any suggestion that any deals have been cut. We simply don't cut deals. We believe our disciplinary individuals and procedure are of the highest integrity. We are looking closely at the comments Sir Alex Ferguson made.' Asked what action might result, he added: 'We will consider these comments over the next few days and decide what action to take. There are a number of powers available to us if we think a charge is appropriate.'
If FA chief executive, Mark Palios, and his senior colleagues do opt to pursue the matter, Ferguson's remarks will be examined by a disciplinary panel and he could be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. The United boss returned to the dugout yesterday after serving a two-match suspension for abusing match officials during his side's 2-1 win at Newcastle United in August. He was also fined £10,000.
Even allowing for Ferguson's recent history of criticis ing the FA for alleged favouritism towards Highbury, his latest comments were outspoken. Arsenal would be 'delighted' that their players had been banned for only between one and four games for attacking Ruud van Nistelrooy at the final whistle, the Scot fumed, while charges were wrongly dropped or downgraded after Arsenal's decision not to contest the FA's charges and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann 'got off with shoving the referee and the linesman', he added. 'They've clearly done a deal. I think the suspicion right through the country is that something has been going on behind the scenes,' claimed Ferguson.
Relations between the champions and the FA have deteriorated since Rio Ferdinand was dropped from England's game against Turkey last month for 'forgetting' to take a drug test. He will also be missing when England play Denmark in a friendly at Old Trafford two weeks today. Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy has admitted his increasingly bitter dispute with Holland manager Dick Advocaat will probably see him on the bench for their forthcoming Euro 2004 play-off games against Scotland. 'I have asked Advocaat, "Am I your striker or not?" He said yes, but looking at the systematic substituting of me, I feel no confidence from the manager,' said the United striker. He was dropped for Holland's recent match with Moldova after protesting at being substituted against the Czech Republic.
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Who does Slur Alex think he is.
Like Manure never done a deal with the F.A. to have a Brazilian break, sit out of the F.A. Cup & blah blah.
I hope they punish him the best way possible, take away his whisky.
[glow=red,2,300]T W A T[/glow]
Denis Campbell
Sunday November 2, 2003
The Observer
Sir Alex Ferguson could be disciplined by the FA for the second time this season after accusing Soho Square of conspiring with Arsenal to give the Highbury club's players light punishments for their violent antics at Old Trafford.
The FA's already fraught relationship with Manchester United plumbed new depths of bitterness when Ferguson angrily claimed the governing body cut a secret deal with Arsenal to go easy on the miscreants involved in the stormy Premiership clash in Manchester in September. The United manager denounced the bans handed to Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown, Lauren and Ray Parlour as too lenient, accused the FA of being biased towards the north London club and claimed that Soho Square had consistently failed to get tough with the long list of Arsenal personnel who have been sent off during Arsène Wenger's seven years in charge.
The FA responded last night by saying that they will examine Ferguson's latest tirade against them very closely. Officials are particularly irked by his statement: 'It's obvious they [Arsenal] have been doing deals [with the FA] for years. Look at the number of times they've got off with charges outside of the 50-odd sending-offs they have had under Wenger. I think they have been up 10 times before the FA and have got off with eight of those. It's remarkable, very remarkable.
The FA's chief spokesman, Adrian Bevington, said: 'We refute any suggestion that any deals have been cut. We simply don't cut deals. We believe our disciplinary individuals and procedure are of the highest integrity. We are looking closely at the comments Sir Alex Ferguson made.' Asked what action might result, he added: 'We will consider these comments over the next few days and decide what action to take. There are a number of powers available to us if we think a charge is appropriate.'
If FA chief executive, Mark Palios, and his senior colleagues do opt to pursue the matter, Ferguson's remarks will be examined by a disciplinary panel and he could be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. The United boss returned to the dugout yesterday after serving a two-match suspension for abusing match officials during his side's 2-1 win at Newcastle United in August. He was also fined £10,000.
Even allowing for Ferguson's recent history of criticis ing the FA for alleged favouritism towards Highbury, his latest comments were outspoken. Arsenal would be 'delighted' that their players had been banned for only between one and four games for attacking Ruud van Nistelrooy at the final whistle, the Scot fumed, while charges were wrongly dropped or downgraded after Arsenal's decision not to contest the FA's charges and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann 'got off with shoving the referee and the linesman', he added. 'They've clearly done a deal. I think the suspicion right through the country is that something has been going on behind the scenes,' claimed Ferguson.
Relations between the champions and the FA have deteriorated since Rio Ferdinand was dropped from England's game against Turkey last month for 'forgetting' to take a drug test. He will also be missing when England play Denmark in a friendly at Old Trafford two weeks today. Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy has admitted his increasingly bitter dispute with Holland manager Dick Advocaat will probably see him on the bench for their forthcoming Euro 2004 play-off games against Scotland. 'I have asked Advocaat, "Am I your striker or not?" He said yes, but looking at the systematic substituting of me, I feel no confidence from the manager,' said the United striker. He was dropped for Holland's recent match with Moldova after protesting at being substituted against the Czech Republic.
++++++
Who does Slur Alex think he is.
Like Manure never done a deal with the F.A. to have a Brazilian break, sit out of the F.A. Cup & blah blah.
I hope they punish him the best way possible, take away his whisky.
[glow=red,2,300]T W A T[/glow]
