The Home Secretary Briefs The Forces Of Law And Order

Good article on The Guardian blog in which Jeff Winter gets some of the criticism he so richly deserves and someone points out the obvious truth that referees aren't giving us shit after "Wileygate":

arguably the real punishment is being enacted on the pitch. Indeed the former referee Jeff Winter came tantalisingly close to justifying his continued presence in the public eye when he predicted as much in the aftermath of Ferguson's comments about Wiley. "I think Sir Alex may have overstepped the line this time and he may be about to get his comeuppance," Winter said. "Human nature's a funny thing. Sir Alex might just find a few refereeing decisions going against him." ...

What is arguably more disconcerting than these dubious decisions is the manner in which former referees, most notably Winter and Dermot Gallagher, have defended them after the event. Some of their arguments have been woolly in the extreme; Winter even said Didier Drogba should not necessarily have been penalised for fouling Wes Brown because such things happen all the time, an argument so spectacularly moronic that we feel slightly unclean even mentioning it.

While our lawyers can't stress enough that there is no suggestion of foul play in the recent treatment of United, there is enough past evidence in sport to at least invite the perception that officials do not always judge incidents on merit. To suggest otherwise would almost redefine naivety.

And I really can't believe this, the fact that Alan Leighton isn't satisfied I can believe, frankly who cares what he thinks, why the papers keep quoting him I don't know - Referees Union? Thought Thatcher killed union power, don't see unions being invited to give their opinion on many other subjects... No, the thing I don't believe is this:

Peter Griffiths QC, who chaired the FA regulatory commission, revealed last night that Ferguson had been discriminated against – and handed a stiffer penalty – because of who he is.

"Each member of the commission recognised Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements and stature within the game," he said. "Having said that, it was made clear to Sir Alex that with such stature comes increased responsibilities. The commission considered his admitted remarks, in the context in which they were made, were not just improper but were grossly improper and wholly inappropriate. He should never have said what he did."

Does that even need comment? Sir Alex is treated more harshly than any other manager would have been because he is so good at it? Is this the real world?
Alan fucking Leighton says:

"This is not a personal vendetta against Sir Alex, but he has a particular stature within the game and if he is seen to be getting off lightly, other managers may think what he said was not beyond the pale. "

So it is a personal vendetta then? And what type of patronising shit is this? These are grown men, not children, professionals, not kids, other managers may be influenced by the bad man. Fuck off Alan Leighton.
Henry Winter is as ever very good on it. The whole thing is well worth reading, even some fairly long quotes can't sum it up, though here they are:

The case against Ferguson lacks perspective. It is like hounding Barack Obama for double-parking outside the White House. The FA must see the bigger picture with Ferguson. ...

I can't remember the last time the FA acknowledged Ferguson's role in shaping England's present or future.

Crassly imitating a scene from Swift, Lilliputian no-names attempt to bring down a giant of the game. The cast of pygmies includes Alan Leighton, a rep from referees' union Prospect, an unknown organisation in football until its pushy principal began piggybacking on Ferguson's fame.

Apparently, Prospect represents referees. So Leighton will know that Ferguson was the first manager to inquire after Mark Halsey's health.

It is the inconsistency of individuals such as Leighton that is particularly galling. Ferguson makes a mistake and gets pilloried. Leighton's members make shocking errors, ignoring beach-balls and bad challenges, yet the Prospect chief stays silent.

The FA seems to have been swayed by a union man stamping his feet and spouting off on the airwaves. Football would be better place if a wise owl such as Ferguson, for all his acerbic outbursts, was advising the FA and its hordes of amateurs on how to run the game.

Ferguson should show more respect to referees – and football should show more respect to Ferguson.

The Sun deserve absolutely no respect for having a story entirely made up of the opinions of Alan Leighton and Jeff Winter... I'm not even going to link to it, so shit is it...

Interview with Rooney here (England context so I won't quote from it).

And he apologises for mouthing "12 men" at the end of the Chelsea game. I hope, after the FA and referees demonstrate just how many men are against us, he's changed his mind and retracts his apology:

The striker was furious, along with boss Sir Alex Ferguson, at the performance of ref Martin Atkinson, who booked Rooney for protesting about John Terry’s goal. “To be honest I have looked back and I probably should not have said it,” added Rooney, who escaped with a warning from the FA.