Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez thinks Sir Alex Ferguson is given too much latitude by the Football Association (FA) despite the Scot this week admitting a charge of improper conduct brought against him by the FA. Martinez accused the FA of being overawed by Ferguson, and has shown sympathy for fellow Spaniard Rafael Benitez.
Ferguson will face the FA at a personal hearing for his comments regarding referee Alan Wiley, but Martinez believes other managers would have been hit with more decisive action than the Scot has so far. That charge relates to his comments earlier this month that Wiley was “unfit”.
“They (the FA) 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,” Martinez told Spanish newspaper AS.
“Any other coach would have been crushed for that. Ferguson has been here for a lifetime and that carries a lot of weight.”
Martinez backs Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez: the Wigan coach thinks Benitez is unfairly targeted by some managers.
“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,” Martinez said.
“On the other side, there’s Rafa Benitez and he gets attacked from all sides.”
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