In the clear: Fergie escapes FA charge despite his persistent rant at officials in Boxing Day thriller with Newcastle 

By Ian Ladyman

PUBLISHED: 07:43 EST, 27 December 2012 | UPDATED: 17:48 EST, 27 December 2012

English football took a step backwards yesterday when referee Mike Dean chose not to report Sir Alex Ferguson for his bizarre behaviour during Manchester United’s Boxing Day victory over Newcastle.

Four years after the launch of the FA’s ‘Respect’ campaign, designed to improve the behaviour of players and managers towards officials, the lines between what is and isn’t acceptable seem as blurred as ever after it emerged Ferguson’s on-field rant against Dean and two of his
colleagues will go unpunished.

There was one piece of common sense yesterday when the FA revealed the red cards awarded incorrectly by Anthony Taylor to West Ham’s Carlton Cole and Everton’s Darron Gibson at Upton Park last Saturday will be overturned.

Fuming: Sir Alex Ferguson has been cleared by the FA after remonstrating with officials

Fuming: Sir Alex Ferguson has been cleared by the FA after remonstrating with officials

Fuming: Sir Alex Ferguson has been cleared by the FA after remonstrating with officials

However, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and QPR’s Harry Redknapp could still face charges after they were highly critical of refereeing performances following Boxing Day defeats.

Mancini claimed Kevin Friend ‘ate too much at Christmas’ after City lost 1-0 at Sunderland, while Redknapp could also be in the dock for slamming referee Chris Foy and assistant Harry Lennard following a 2-1 home defeat by West Bromwich. Redknapp said of the assistant: ‘Maybe he should go to Specsavers.’

Dean’s decision not to mention Ferguson’s behaviour in his match report to the FA lets the United boss off the hook and would appear to send out the message that ‘anything goes’.

Barrage: Ferguson complained to assistant referee Jake Collin after a controversial Jonny Evans own goal

Barrage: Ferguson complained to assistant referee Jake Collin after a controversial Jonny Evans own goal

Thriller: United went on to take the game against Newcastle at the death

Thriller: United went on to take the game against Newcastle at the death

Looming: Ferguson glares at the linesman after the decision
Looming: Ferguson glares at the linesman after the decision

Looming: Ferguson glares at the linesman after the decision

THOSE THE FA DID PUNISH...

Liverpool midfielder Suso was fined £10,000 earlier this month for sending a homophobic tweet to team-mate Jose Enrique.

Suso replied to a picture posted on Twitter by Enrique showing the Reds defender getting his teeth whitened. The 19-year-old Spaniard tweeted: ‘What f*** is he doing? This guy is gay... he does everything except play football.’

After Suso was slapped with a fine, Enrique jumped to his defence and said: 'Is amazing how fa can fine my friend @suso30fernandez for a banter thing. Was just a joke!!!'

Chelsea captain John Terry was found guilty by the FA of making racist comments to QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

Despite being cleared of a criminal charge after last season's incident, Terry was banned for four games and fined £220,000.

Terry's team-mate Ashley Cole received a whopping £90,000 fine back in October for a profane outburst on Twitter.

He labelled the FA a 'bunch of t***s' after an independent regulatory commission investigating the Terry racial abuse case had cast doubt over Cole's evidence.

Liverpool talisman Luis Suarez served an eight-match ban last season after being adjudged to have repeatedly racially abused Patrice Evra by the FA.

Despite the fact the United manager strode on to the pitch to harangue Dean about Newcastle’s controversial second goal and then berated both a linesman and the fourth official, the referee is believed to view Ferguson’s comments as within the boundaries of reasonable communication.

Dean is said to have felt the Scot’s questioning of his decision constituted a ‘reasonable and rational discussion’ and did not report him because he did not feel there was abusive language or any questioning of his integrity.

Yesterday, though, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew seemed to speak for many observers when he said: ‘Mike Dean might feel slightly disappointed he didn’t do something about it. The pressure on him was tough to take for a referee.

‘Sometimes when you reflect on a game you feel you might have acted differently.

‘Apparently they had a cordial discussion. I’ve had a few of those and sometimes I’ve ended up in the stands as a result of that cordial discussion.

‘It’s irrelevant now. We don’t go back to Old Trafford until next year. I might mention it before the press conference next season.’

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce hailed a victory for justice after the overturning of the red cards shown by Taylor (left) to Cole and Gibson.

The referee was widely criticised yet he has not been censured. Instead, Taylor will take charge of Sunday’s televised game between QPR and Liverpool.

Smouldering: Ferguson stood behind Collins after half-time

Smouldering: Ferguson stood behind Collins after half-time

Happy: Ferguson held his arms aloft after watching United come from behind three times against Newcastle

Happy: Ferguson held his arms aloft after watching United come from behind three times against Newcastle

Sealed it: Javier Hernandez finally put United in front of Newcastle late in the game

Sealed it: Javier Hernandez finally put United in front of Newcastle late in the game

Omission: Mike Dean decided not to include the incident in his match report

Omission: Mike Dean decided not to include the incident in his match report

 

 
 

 

 

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I don't care what Manager does this type of thing but it's not good for our youth to see. It shows all the wrong aspects of the game which is now dictated by money and over paid people. Ferguson should be taught a lesson with a ban from the touch line and other managers the same, showing all teams staff that verbally abusing the referees and and linesmen will not be tolerated!!

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No wonder weak referees like Clattenberg bend over backwards to keep on the right side of old red nose. If any other manager had abused officials like that, they would have had a long touchline ban.

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Why has SAF got away with abusing officials again, some with red tinted glasses have stated that it is because the referee did not report the incident. If that is the case why did the referee not report it because the actions of this "respected" football man were appalling. If the referee did not see or hear the abuse what were the other officials doing? It is hard to accept that United players and staff are treated differently at Old trafford but incidents like this do very little to dispel the myth.

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Having made one gross error in deciding not to punish Ferguson, the FA compounds it by inventing a dubious explanation of a cordial and reasonable discussion - when it's plain to see it was nothing of the sort. Malcolm Tucker is alive and well, and working in the FA communcations department. They take us for fools

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I was once an admirer of SAF, but he's turning into an angry, ungracious, petulant old man. Moaning and complaining when he doesn't get his way. He never mouths off when Man Utd get the benefit of the doubt. It's time he called it a day before he really makes a fool of himself.

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A shameful and truly appalling sustained act of behaviour by Ferguson. But what's more shameful is the stance that the FA and officials have adopted when acts of intimidation like this happen: do nothing. Despicable.

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If that was a cordial discussion, let's hope we never witness a nasty one. Having made one bad decision to let Ferguson off, the FA is now inventing dubious reasons. Malcolm Tucker is alive and well, and living in the FA communications dept.

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I bet the ref couldn't understand him because he mumbles all the while.

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Sir *****ole - controlling the FA again!

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Have you ever seen such an obnoxious man as this......they ought to pension him off and instead of a watch chop down that dreadful statue which he had made of himself..

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