Benitez launches scathing attack on Ferguson
LONDON Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez launched a blistering attack on Manchester United counterpart Alex Ferguson's unpunished abuse of referees and accusations that the league is conspiring against his title defense.
Ferguson "is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished" for criticizing referees, Benitez said on Friday, reading from a prepared statement at Liverpool's training ground.
Benitez complained that the Football Association has been too lenient when dealing with Ferguson's attacks on refs, despite the launch of a high-profile "Respect" campaign aimed at improving behavior toward officials.
While Benitez also voiced his frustration with Liverpool's American owners about the slow progress in negotiations over a new contract, Ferguson was his main target.
The only United reaction came from Bryan Robson, the former captain who serves as the club's global ambassador. He expressed surprise that Benitez delivered the "staged" statement instead of concentrating on Saturday's match at Stoke in the English Premier League.
"Benitez has come out with a rant today which is unbelievable," Robson said on United's TV channel. "I think the boss has got one over on him already."
In May, Ferguson was cleared of improper conduct charges over comments made about referee Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett, the general manager of Professional Game Match Officials, after United was eliminated from the FA Cup by Portsmouth.
Ferguson said Atkinson's display was "unacceptable" and "on Portsmouth's side."
"He was not punished," Benitez said. "He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things.
"We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and FA about the 'Respect' campaign and I was very clear: Forget the campaign because Mr. Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr. Atkinson, killing Mr. Hackett. But he is not punished. How can you talk about the 'Respect' campaign and criticize the referee every single week? ...
"Every time we go to Old Trafford and the United staff are always going man to man with the referees, especially at halftime when they walk close to the referees and they are talking and talking."
The 67-year-old Ferguson received a two-game touchline ban in November over a confrontation with referee Mike Dean.
The "Respect" initiative was launched after repeated instances of referee abuse last season notably Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano refusing to accept he had been red-carded at United and having to be dragged off the pitch.
Recent comments
Fergie has been getting a pass for way too long with the way he...
Tractor Boy | Jan. 9, 2009 at 7:52 p.m.
- NFL: Week 12 recap 12:50 a.m.
- '12 Days' bill would top $87K 12:35 a.m.
- Study finds autism therapy works 12:35 a.m.
- Boy shot following traffic stop 12:35 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:24 a.m.
- Herbert builds his team of rivals 12:21 a.m.
- Corroon a step closer to governor 12:21 a.m.
- Monday on TV 12:18 a.m.
- Editorial: East, West and religion 12:17 a.m.
- A deficit commission? 12:17 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
869 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
473 - Max Hall issues apology
145 - BYU is champion of the state
137 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
68 - Utes fall to Seattle U. at home
65
We learned a bit more about the basketball team after this weekend.
There are 14 BYU players from Salt Lake Valley. And there are four Utah...
I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...
None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...
Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...
Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...
How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...
90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...
This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.
Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...
Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...
Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...


