Sid Lowe in Madrid Tuesday 27 October 2009
• They are almost apologising for punishing him, says MartÃnez
• Manager not expecting Ferguson to be severely sanctioned
Roberto MartÃnez has accused the English football authorities of being intimidated by Sir Alex Ferguson, saying that the Scot is treated differently to other managers in the game. The Wigan Athletic manager insisted that his Manchester United counterpart is allowed to get away with more than his Premier League rivals, who would be "crushed" for committing the same crimes, and is protected by a cabal of coaches who court his favour.
Ferguson has admitted a charge of improper conduct over remarks he made about the referee Alan Wiley following this month's 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford. He has apologised for causing Wiley "personal embarrassment" by questioning his fitness and there have been calls for him to be handed a lengthy touchline ban. He also courted controversy over his suggestion that Andre Marriner lacked the experience to referee Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. But MartÃnez expressed doubts that the punishment handed down will be as severe as that meted out to other coaches, as there is little appetite for taking Ferguson to task.
"They have just sanctioned Ferguson for saying that referee was not fit enough and the truth is that they're almost apologising to him for punishing him," MartÃnez said. "Any other coach would have been crushed for that." Asked if Ferguson dictates English football, MartÃnez told the Spanish paper AS: "Yes, a lot." He added: "Ferguson has been here for a lifetime and that carries a lot of weight."
MartÃnez believes that Ferguson's position is strengthened by a group of disciples whom the Scot cultivates as loyal allies against his enemies such as the Liverpool coach, Rafael BenÃtez. There was a hint, too, that MartÃnez suspects Ferguson dangles the carrot of Old Trafford succession before the eyes of those loyal to him.
In April Ferguson attacked BenÃtez for having previously described "The Chosen One"'s Everton as a "small club" and for showing "contempt" for opponents with a gesture he made on the touchline during a 4-0 victory over Sam Allardyce's Blackburn Rovers. Allardyce complained BenÃtez's gesture was humiliating – but only after Ferguson spoke out. He made no comment after the game about a signal BenÃtez said was a self-deprecating one to his own team.
Allardyce and Moyes are close friends of Ferguson. Moyes has been widely touted as a candidate for Ferguson's job when he retires while MartÃnez believes Allardyce has designs on the post, too. "Ferguson has his group of faithfuls, people who are committed to him: Steve Bruce, who was a player with him, Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford, and others," MartÃnez said. "On the other side there's Rafa BenÃtez and he gets attacked from all sides."
The Football Association is being urged to commit Ferguson to an official agreement that he will curtail his criticism of referees. Ferguson has requested a personal hearing at which he will apologise again for accusing Wiley of booking players because he needed a rest from running but Alan Leighton, the national secretary of the trade union Prospect, of which referees are members, wants the FA to make an example of Ferguson.
"We welcome the fact that he [Ferguson] has admitted his guilt and hope he will now dedicate himself to furthering the Respect agenda," said Leighton. "If I was someone on the [FA disciplinary] panel I might be asking him for a commitment not to do the same thing again."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/27/roberto-martinez-sir-alex-fergusonI would F***ing love it if Allardyce got the manc job when Fergie's full blown alcoholism finally kicks in!
