MANCHESTER (DF) -- Outspoken Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will appeal his recent improper conduct charge to the Football Association, levied against him after he criticized match official Martin Atkinson, and ask that he be allowed to officiate all future United league and cup games himself.
The charges against Ferguson were announced on Thursday by the FA after the Scot's stinging assessment of referee Martin Atkinson's performance during Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge. Atkinson failed to send off Chelsea defender David Luiz for a second bookable offence, gave the Blues a decisive penalty, and issued marching orders to United defender Nemanja Vidic.
"You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway, one who will call things our way, and we didn't get that," said a disgruntled Ferguson to club TV after the loss. "I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst."
The 39-year-old Atkinson has a history involving high profile Manchester United games, with the Bradford-born official taking charge of the controversial 2009 Manchester derby at Old Trafford. Atkinson added on six minutes of injury time, more than the time announced by the fourth official, allowing United to score a last minute winner. The event was roundly ridiculed by then City manager Mark Hughes, but lauded by United boss Ferguson.
"Martin Atkinson has consistently shown a bias against Manchester United," claimed a Red Devils spokesperson at a Friday press conference. "Time and time again, obvious decisions have gone against us, and results have been affected. We don't know what we've done to Mr. Atkinson, apart from treating him with the upmost hospitality whenever he's at Old Trafford. Fine dining, expensive wines; all the things visiting officials should expect from a side like United."
"Unfortunately, this red vendetta appears to be a trend emerging in match officials up and down the country. The only simple solution to correct this clear bias is to allow the United manager to officiate games himself, from the sidelines. We believe this to be fair and we will be making this point to the FA at the hearing."
Should he be found guilty by his friends at the FA, Ferguson would immediately activate a suspended two game touchline ban, picked up last season after comments he made regarding the lung capacity of referee Alan Wiley.
