Fergie unhappy with referee

November 08, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson: Not happy with referee's decisions

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed referee Martin Atkinson’s decisions which led to Chelsea’s winning goal at Stamford Bridge today were the kind which lead managers and players to “lose faith in refereeing”.

Atkinson awarded a free-kick for Darren Fletcher’s challenge on Ashley Cole, and Wes Brown appeared to be impeded as Frank Lampard’s delivery was turned into the net.

An unhappy Ferguson said: “Clearly, Darren Fletcher’s won the ball - Ashley Cole’s never touched and has jumped up in the air - and then (Didier) Drogba’s pulled Brown to the ground for the goal.

“The referee’s position to make the decision was absolutely ridiculous, he can’t see anything. He’s got a Chelsea player (Joe Cole) standing right in front of him and he doesn’t even move.

“It was a bad decision, but there’s nothing we can do about it. You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that’s the way the players are talking in there - it was a bad one.”

| Submit Comments | Comments (56) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

manc abroad, OT (08/11/2009 at 18:45)

Should be as well.

Not a foul.

Drogba foulded Brown during free kick.

Then when the ball came through off terry and Anelka Drogba was off side and trying to kick the ball.
Off side and interfering with play.

Just seen the replay and Joe Cole was standing in front of the referee who could not have seen a thing. Linesman bottled it.

Should have been a penalty for United as well.

kevodevo (08/11/2009 at 18:50)

No getting away from it- there was a foul and the goal was correct - poor result - all in all but 3rd loss away sounds the bell- no guile no way through, huff and puff and get nowhere- all the complaining in the world will not make it change- when the big teams meet the result is predictable- that is unless more time could have been bought

jazza13, Auckland, New Zealand (08/11/2009 at 18:53)

Completely agree. Seems to be a trend at the Bridge over the last couple of years. United play their hearts out and deserve a point if not all three, but then the game gets heated up and some ridiculous fouls (Ballack over the years and Carvahlo today) and the referee cannot keep a lid on it and starts issuing the cards. Martin Atkinson is a decent referee on most occasions, but was unable to perform up to the required standard today. Giggs wasn't really keeping the ball too well today however.

Scholesy passed me the ball..., England (08/11/2009 at 18:53)

Referee's fault or not - we can forget about the league this year.

At least the Ronaldo money is sitting nicely in the bank.....can't see any of it being used this winter.

Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (08/11/2009 at 18:55)

As usual in London, daylight robbery aided and abetted be the law.

danny, WILMSLOW (08/11/2009 at 19:10)

It was not a bad decision the ref new exactly what he was doing he wanted Chelsea to win, it stands out a mile,from virtually the kick off that was obvious.
Fergie is wrong they can do something about it.Its time to demand technology like all other sports.
Chelsea are cheats and they had a ref and a linesman aiding and abetting them.

Is It Me? (08/11/2009 at 19:28)

Talking like someone who has been castrated! No mention of the stone cold penalty,no mention of the ref stopping play when two Chelsea players collided and Rooney was clear on goal! Daylight robbery!

Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (08/11/2009 at 19:28)

Terry falls down, stays on the ground. The referee only then stops play when United are in possession . . . says it all really. Stinks.

Siege mentality, win every game from now on!

Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (08/11/2009 at 19:36)

See the interviews on Sky that Ancelotti wasn't man enough to admit that the ref had gifted Chelsea the game . . .

no respect for that.

roger of norway (08/11/2009 at 19:57)

Offside as well. Ridiclous. We were the better team. Chelsea for Bollywood!

george best_68 (08/11/2009 at 20:20)

total disgrace

marriner as 4th offical lmfao omg

perhaps romka is paying them? who knows

Len Rosewell (08/11/2009 at 20:27)

I agree with SAF - normally United can agree on getting the balance of the decisions from referees. Something must have gone wrong this time - maybe not enough pressure was put on the officials before or during the match? Unfortunaltely, having the majority of 50-50 decisions go United's way is essential in this tough league, and officials need to be "brought back into the right camp".

Oh well, it's something that can be addressed over the next few weeks.

World-wide-United, Not-in-wasteland (08/11/2009 at 20:58)

you are right SAF it is just the english FA plan to rip off the title from the north and give it on a golden plate to the londoners
they know how bad history atkinson has with man u games,,,he is the perfect ref for us to lose the game

N.B just watch joe cole punching fletcher just infront the ref's eyes

ridiculous what a stupid level of reffereeing

ribery's ankle, Amsterdam (08/11/2009 at 21:20)

AGREE SAF!! They clearly want a southern team to win this!!

G M USA (08/11/2009 at 21:34)

Martin??? Could have fooled me; I thought it was Rowan out there today...

Rockefella, Warrington (08/11/2009 at 21:56)

Some very suspect refereeing decisions today. Valencia should have had a penalty as well when Terry blatantly brought him down. When decisions like that go against you, you know it's just not going to be your day...!! Thought we were, by far, the better team today but not very comforting right now..

Nollaig Mc Guinness (08/11/2009 at 22:48)

Wouldn't normally blame ref and linesmen for a games outcome but I would do in this case. Thought they had a total shocker. Big decisions went against us but there were poor decisions on both sides throughout - evans flying ninja kick to drogbas heart, they had a few corners not given and then giggs and ivanovic standing on sideline wondering if they were in play or not. Circus stuff.

The big decisions were the penalty, the free kick against fletcher and rooney offside when he was clear through. (Not sure wayne would have scored today though).

Just watched highlights on irish tv and bbc and the pundits are unanimous - we were the better team and the referees got it badly wrong.

Happens. Move on. We didn't take our chances today and it cost us. Encouraging performance from us though. We will be in the mix in april.

BluePrint, Four Corners (08/11/2009 at 23:46)

Evans should have been sentoff for violent conduct. Clearly he extended and thrust his left leg at Drogba's chest. FA should review this to discourage thuggery and violent conduct. Rib cage injuries are serious.

Elizzar, Oxford (09/11/2009 at 00:56)

city fan in peace, watched the game today, thought united were generally superior but guilty of squandering their chances. saying that it should have been a draw bu the referee has messed up big time re. freekicks, several chelski handballs, and earlier linesman when rooney was onside + on goal, so commiserations. i hope you go on to put this behind you and its a city united 1-2 in the league (who's 1 and 2 i'm not going to say ... !)

Len Rosewell (09/11/2009 at 01:15)

I think SAF and the managment team should redouble their efforts to ensure that referees continued to favour United and so we don't have another event like today when the ref was unbiased, or even favoured Chelsea.

One of the features of the last few years have been the effective tactics by the United staff get the right type of refereeing, including:

- Comments/pressure before the match through interviews, press comments etc.
- Pressue during match day - both physical (not harming anyone of course) and mental
- Comments/pressure after the match through interviews, press comments etc. - and singling out particular refs seem to work particulary well.

... but over the last couple of matches it seems like the foot has been taken off the pedal a bit (the Man City game was a good effort though).

Let's hope things get back to usual quickly.

Bob The Blueder, oz (09/11/2009 at 01:42)

what about Evans karate kick on Drogba, A penalty,it was in the area, and evans late tackles, running around like a chicken with no head, he should have been sent off. So thats Martin Atkinson , Fergies best friend after City derby game , now the enemy, and Alan Wiley also the enemy. I wonder if it has anything to do with Losing, and being a bad loser. Tough.

Bob The Blueder, oz (09/11/2009 at 01:45)

Hey Fergie thats strange somebody got impeded in the penalty area, wow that has never happened before, and utd would never impede anyone, how do you laugh in writing, cause I am.

Clustim, Swigging Super Bock, Algarve, Portugal. (09/11/2009 at 06:40)

There is no distraction agenda here from SAF criticising the officials -they were awful.
Trying to salvage a positive, unlike at Anfield our midfield turned up and overall it should have been a team winning performance, but al least we did not get the stuffing that some had predicted and with Fletcher back and Anderson finally in gear there are positives to build on.

nodge, goa india (09/11/2009 at 07:04)

the ref had a stinker,i thought we we're superb with every player standing out.anderson kept essien under control likewise carrick and lampard and fletch had everyone under control,fletch must now be one of the top four midfielders in the prem.so lets have more of the same in the games comoing up and we'll be ok.so much for fergie not being clued up tactically,well he outwitted ancelotti.

palomablanca, manchester (09/11/2009 at 07:23)

Im behind Sir Alex 100% on this one,Ok United have benefited in the past with dodgy decisions going in their favour,But the majority of those decisions were borderline & open to question,Yesterdays game was littered with injustice (Too many to list). The season is far from over though & yesterdays performance gave a glimpse of United on the rise

()

Report

Manchester United