Ferguson hits out at detractors

Sir Alex Ferguson insists he will defend himself vigorously against a charge of improper conduct levelled against him by the Football Association.

The Scot was charged by the FA after comments he made about referee Martin Atkinson after United’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on March 1.

Ferguson was angered during that match by Atkinson’s decision not to send off Chelsea defender David Luiz for fouls on Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez.

“You want a fair ref. I don’t know how he got this game. I must say, when I saw who it was, I did fear that,” Ferguson said after the match.

“It’s three years in a row that decisions have changed the game here. It was incredible.”

“Luiz had done Hernandez off the ball and nothing was done. Then he does Rooney, clear as day.”

Writing in United’s matchday programme ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final with Arsenal on Saturday, Ferguson said he would be strongly refuting the charge, which could result in a touchline ban.

“I felt aggrieved and I now face an FA charge for what, to my mind, was simply telling the truth,” he said.

“I will be defending myself strongly when my FA appeal hearing comes up.”

“In fact, I am looking forward to the challenge because, to my mind, I have not said anything out of place, however much the media urge the FA to take action.”

“I don’t think sticking up for my team makes me a villain, especially when you consider that Manchester United have one of the best disciplinary records in the country.”

Ferguson also hit out at former England coach Graham Taylor and Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who have both criticised the United boss in recent days.

“I was disappointed with Graham Taylor, who wrote that I had to take ‘the rough with the smooth’,” Ferguson said.

“I think back to when he was England manager and was complaining to a linesman: ‘The referee has got me the sack’.”

“Kenny Dalglish looked to be lecturing me in the papers about the need to respect referees, perhaps forgetting that not so long ago his players were tweeting critically all over the place about Howard Webb.”

“People have short memories.”