Fergie rant signals the end of Respect

The continuing spat between Sir Alex Ferguson and the nation’s referees is certain to dissipate any goodwill officials had left for the Old Trafford outfit.
Ferguson’s rants, first against Alan Wiley and then widened to take in all referees, were as ridiculous as his attempts to dig himself out of a hole by pretending he was trying to raise a serious issue.
Furious that his team had failed to beat Sunderland, he took it out on Wiley, questioning his fitness – a claim totally discounted by the Prozone stats which showed Wiley ran further than all but seven players out of the 22.
In typical style, Old Trafford sources then tried to claim that there was a media and referee’s vendetta against Ferguson – again total nonsense.
If, as he claimed, he made his comments to raise an issue that should be investigated through the proper channels, then he should have raised them through the proper channels, not in a post-match tirade to the media that smacked of sour grapes.
Wiley, one of the game’s most experienced referees, was in charge for United’s recent 2-2 draw with Sunderland, during which United equalised in injury time.
Seeking a scapegoat for his own team’s failures, Ferguson claimed Wiley should have played longer and questioned his fitness, even going so far as to suggest the referee only booked players because he needed 30 seconds rest.
His attempt at an apology then only widened the net to cast aspersions over all officials.
His accusations are highly damaging. It is one thing criticising a referee’s decision-making – God knows, everyone does it all the time and it’s all highly subjective - but attacking something as fundamental as his fitness is another matter entirely.
If managers are banned for criticising missed penalties and offsides, then Ferguson deserves a lot more for such a personal insult.
The referee’s body, the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, is now threatening legal action against Ferguson and good on them for not taking it on the chin – as so often they have been forced to – and standing up to such bully boy tactics.
We all know what a fantastic manager Ferguson is and how important he is to football. But that doesn’t make him above the law.
Now the referees need the FA, which this week charged Ferguson with improper conduct, to stand strong and throw the book at him.
If they don’t, not only will it shatter the morale of referees, but will also kill its own Respect campaign, set up to protect officials from exactly this kind of abuse, stone dead.