Alan Leighton, national secretary for referees’ union Prospect, says that Sir Alex Ferguson may face legal action after the FA handed the Manchester United manager a two-match touchline by last week. Ferguson, who in October claimed Alan Wiley was not fit enough to officiate a Premier League game, may now face a defamation suit.
“I intend to talk to Alan Wiley to see if he wants to sue on the issue. One of the things we are saying is, is there a case these comments are defamatory?” said Leighton, who had earlier called for the FA to prohibited Ferguson from all coaching and not solely a touchline ban.
“We need to take a few steps back and see what has happened here and I would like to see more about the judgment. We never wanted to get lawyers involved but if referees don’t feel they are being protected by the regulatory bodies and someone says something defamatory sooner or later someone is going to take action over it.
“We are going to talk to the relevant authorities to see what it means for the future. I’ll also talk to our members. I think there will be a concern this isn’t an appropriate way to send a message that these comments were wholly unacceptable.”
Ferguson, who will sit in the stands for matches against Everton and Portsmouth as well as pay a £20,000 fine, later apologised for the personal nature of the comments before admitting an FA charge of improper conduct.
Yet, if Wiley sues – backed by the referees union – he will end not only his own impartiality when it comes to refereeing United’s matches but that of all referees who act under the Prospect banner. After all, if Leighton consults the union’s members on legal action, and Ferguson ends up in court, referees will be as one against the Scot and United.
Schadenfreude dictates that many rival fans will delight in court action as much as any implication of an official clamp down on United. Indeed, the outrageously poor refereeing decisions that United has faced in recent games against Liverpool and Chelsea will have found scorn only at Old Trafford.
But a refereeing union that is – literally – united against a single club is a terrifying prospect not only for Ferguson’s team but for Premier League football too. A competition in which all officialdom becomes tainted with genuine – legal – bias is good for nobody.
Indeed, legal action by Wiley will make sure that it is a genuine conflict of interest for the Staffordshire-born referee to officiate any game that involves United or the club’s rivals. Much the same might be said for the rest of the pool, if the union back’s the action.
Consistency is important too. What of the next time an Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Wrexham, Bognor Regis, Sunday league or pub team manager criticises an official? Will Prospect be compelled not only to support litigation against that coach but also orchestrate – as they have with Ferguson – a media-led campaign of misinformation.
Perhaps this newly vocal union will also act if a manager again implies deep-seated bias, as David Moyes did when he maliciously suggested Mike Riley is a United supporter prior to last season’s FA Cup Semi Final.
It somehow seems doubtful.
Or perhaps Prospect, the FA and, yes, the media have seized upon Ferguson’s comments to push ahead with their own agendas. Referees, already highly protected by the governing body, want criticism – implied or real – of their performances stamped out of the game. It’s now the only profession on the planet that is immune from any form of critical assessment.
Meanwhile, the FA is able to act decisively only when given the green light by the nation’s press, in search of a witch to hunt. It is the normal state of affairs. Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand and now Sir Alex have each received unprecedented punishment from the game’s oldest institution.
Leighton now believes referees must join in the party.
Let him know what you think of him!!
Alan.Leighton@prospect.org.uk
I couldn’t agree more.
I especially like one line in this article, “….the only profession on the planet that is immune from any form of critical assessment.”
I believe that the EPL needs an independent body which deals with club grievances against match officials. This body could be made up of former referees from all over Europe and even retired players and managers who have not had involvement with the any of the premier league’s members.
This body needs to be given the power to mete out quick justice (24 hours – maximum). Short of being able to overturn a match result, this body needs ti be able to fine referees, suspend them from officiating and demote them to lower leagues if their performances do not measure up.
This may help stamp out bias officiating; and managers would not feel the need to attempt to get justice and vent their frustrations through the press. This body could also deal with managerial and player conduct towards officials.
We can all dream.
“UNITED!”
PS Half a season later and Tevez is still a cunt
Great Article mate, really was a quality read. I for one is voicing my views on the issues on some other blogs that lets not back of. I know it can be impulsive but you have to do it. I mean if you do things properly in correct manner you can fight against the authorities as well. Wenger just showed it. When he went after UEFA for there ban on Eduardo and Finally got it revoked. It was all thoughtful and methodological. I mean in this particular case why wait till Union will take some action, just get on with it and you file a suit in Court of Arbitration for your point. You have many points to prove you case. And all the replys and videos will only help. Moreover, you really can pressurize them by talking about the (so called conspiracy) that all the decisions have gone against us by proving it through video evidences.
All I am saying it there are ways there which will turn this adverse position in our fair. I mean thats what United is all about ‘Turn adversity in Positivity isn’t it’.
This is really worrying. Fucking hate these bastards.
By the same token, a player could then sue a pundit for suggesting that he was unfit.
Its completely misconceived. There is such a thing as fair comment. It will never ever stand up in court. So fed up with the posturing of the ref association, they need to grow up and learn to take a bit of criticism! Surely you’ve got to be a bit thick skinned to even take on the job, considering the abuse that gets thrown at you weekly from the fans.