Why the FA have brought themselves into disrepute with Alex Ferguson's gutless penalty - Martin Lipton's tea-time digest
So how do you deal with a manager who publicly invites ridicule to be hurled at one of the country's senior referees?
By feigning outrage and disgust - and imposing a penalty that doesn't actually hurt.
As the FA announced Sir Alex Ferguson's punishment for his verbal attack on Alan Wiley was a £20,000 fine and two-game touchline ban, the blazer brigade stood accused of bringing themselves into disrepute.
If Fergie's behaviour was as scandalous as the statement by Peter Griffiths QC suggested, then surely it was incumbent on the governing body to impose a punishment that meant something.
Instead, the FA version of the touchline ban does not, as in the case of a UEFA punishment, prevent Ferguson from doing everything he normally does on match-day, except creaking out of the dug-out to perform his "old man jig" when United score.
Of course, the FA's disciplinary regulations - and their application - are about as solid and consistent as the Hull City back-line especially when confronted by gamekeeper-turned-poacher Graham Bean, the former in-house compliance officer who represented Ferguson.
Fergie, who has got away with far worse than his comments about Wiley - just look at his past and recent pronouncements about Martin Atkinson, who suddenly metamorphosed into a good referee when he added six minutes of stoppage time against Manchester City - will know he has been let off with little more than a slap over the wrist.
Whether the Prospect trade union should have become involved in this dispute is another matter - given Fergie's unflinching support for the movement, he may ask Gordon Brown to cross Alan Leighton's name off the No 10 Christmas Card list - and with the stick that Wiley receives from fans every Saturday, Ferguson's comments should not have affected him at all.
Everybody knows that Ferguson used Wiley as a means to deflect attention away from how poor his team had been against Sunderland, when they deserved to lose, but the penalty imposed today will have no affect on the Manchester United manager whatsoever.
Then again, should we really expect anything different?
At least the other body that shares the running of the game did something right as Premier League clubs dismissed the idea of Celtic and Rangers transporting themselves over the border out of sight .
While the Old Firm are great clubs with fantastic fans, they are Scottish and should play in Scotland.
For both Celtic and Rangers, the interest in joining an expanded Premier League was purely financial, not due to some long-term grand vision.
The proposal by Bolton's Phil Gartside was based on fear, with a self-elected, self-perpetuating elite locking themselves into a guarantee of easy money - and no punishment for failure.
That would have been a disgrace, irrespective of the identity of the clubs involved, with the idea of extending an open invitation to the Glasgow giants simply making things even worse. At least that has now been shelved.
Which classic football manager are you? Take our test
Follow MirrorFootball on Twitter for breaking news, the latest opinions and fun stuff throughout the day
Get the best priced tickets to the best games at Mirror Tickets.
Win two tickets to see Fulham vs Man City with Mirror Football.
Post to :
Why Abramovich's expensive Chelsea flops are the new Damned Blue-nited
Michael Calvin 23:02 20/03/10Damned United can finally rest in peace.Football’s evil eye has averted its gaze and refocused on D... Read More+
Why Portsmouth should be relegated two divisions, and managers need to get tough on players
Michael Calvin 23:01 20/03/10Avram Grant, take note. Living beyond your means is just another form of cheating.If we lived in an ... Read More+
Why Beckham has to be the global face of English football
Mirror Football Blog 23:00 20/03/10England fans recognise patriotism. That’s why no one can ever question David Beckham’s dedication to... Read More+
Why Al Fayed should get some of the credit for Hodgson and Fulham's success
Michael Calvin 23:00 20/03/10Roy Hodgson is a shoo-in for Manager of the Year.His Fulham team is impeccably organised, improbabl... Read More+
Exclusive Lucas interview: Liverpool would be mad to get rid of Rafa Benitez
Mirror Football Blog 22:45 20/03/10Lucas Leiva doesn’t play the blame game.Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder is honest enough to admit t... Read More+
Harry Redknapp: The FA Cup means everything to me
Mirror Football Blog 22:30 20/03/10Harry Redknapp has left no one in any doubt what the oldest cup competition in the world means to hi... Read More+
Pictures of the Week, March 14-20, 2010
Mirror Football Blog 13:23 20/03/10Welcome to our new Pictures of the Week gallery, your pictorial guide to the past seven days in foot... Read More+
What do you think will happen in today's games?
Mirror Football Blog 12:02 20/03/10It's shaping up to be a great weekend for football, with the best of the action likely to happen at ... Read More+
Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Saturday's papers
Football Spy 11:52 20/03/10From today's Daily Mirror: Benitez: I would rather have Torres than Rooney Reina: I will sign a new... Read More+
Roy Hodgson wins my vote to be England's next boss after his Fulham heroics
Mark Lawrenson 05:05 20/03/10Roy Hodgson has earned himself legendary status at Fulham – and put himself in the frame for the Eng... Read More+
Way Beck will be very hard for David, but there's still time for Hargreaves to win World Cup call
Mark Lawrenson 05:03 20/03/10It's hard to see David Beckham being able to come back to the same level after his devastating Achil... Read More+
Why the future is looking torrid for Liverpool, plus Dowie is too late to save Hull
Mark Lawrenson 05:00 20/03/10Fernando Torres has been linked to moves away from Liverpool – and if Rafa Benitez goes or the Reds ... Read More+







