Premier League - United fined over card glut

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Sep 08:57:00 2008

Manchester United will receive a £25,000 fine after picking up seven yellow cards at Chelsea on Sunday.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Manchester United Gary Neville Owen Hargreaves Mike Riley - 0

Sir Alex Ferguson was left biting his lip in frustration following Mike Riley's performance at Stamford Bridge, claiming there had not been a bad tackle in the game.

But the Old Trafford outfit will still be hit by an automatic penalty, even if they are unlikely to be called to account for their conduct as a team.

The FA will wait for Riley's report before deciding whether to look into a clash between Rio Ferdinand and Didier Drogba on the final whistle which left the Chelsea man needing treatment.

"It was a competitive game but I did not think there was one bad tackle in it," said Ferguson of the 1-1 draw.

"The game is being screened worldwide. Everyone is watching it and something like that happens.

"People are saying what is going on here but it is difficult to say anything about the referee. I do not want to get involved."

Ferguson was clearly unhappy with Riley's performance, as were a number of his senior players as Salomon Kalou levelled 10 minutes from time after Park Ji-sung had put the visitors in front midway through the first-half.

And United's afternoon did not get much less stormy after they had left Stamford Bridge as their team coach was attacked on the short trip to Euston station.

A bottle was hurled from the pavement, cracking the windscreen, although no-one was injured, with United officials eager to play down the incident afterwards.

"Yes. There was an incident but the matter is now in the hands of the police," said a club spokesman.

At least Riley received the backing of Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who noted the FA's recent 'Respect' initiative aimed at greater co-operation between players and officials.

"I am not surprised," said Scolari. "That is what the referee is there for.

"If players do not respect him, it should be yellow and red cards. It doesn't matter who you are - Liverpool or Manchester United, whoever."

However, the Chelsea coach said he was puzzled at the bizarre ending, with Riley blowing for time as Drogba was about to receive treatment.

"It was strange that he finished the game at that time but we need to accept his decision."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 42 - 61 of 61

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. to s_hamid hardly any Man Utd fans live in or near­ Manchester

    From Sadoldgit, on Tue 23 Sep 9:15PM

  2. At least Fowler Ferdinand kicked a player instead of­ alady steward this time

    From Sadoldgit, on Tue 23 Sep 9:11PM

  3. drogba lying on the ground in agony, nothing new there­ then ?

    From mike, on Tue 23 Sep 9:05PM

  4. Why do the FA bother issuing such paltry fines to­ Premiership clubs? If they really wanted to shock those­ teams they would make fines in the region of between­ £500,000 to a million pounds if more than 6 players­ from one team are booked in a game.

    Conversly,­ FIFA's fair play league, awards the best behaved­ team the chance of playing in Europe each season, which­ is a reward worth potentially millions, so I can't­ see why multinationals corps like Manchester United­ Inc, shouldn't be fined a whole lot more.

    From oliverwrtaylor, on Tue 23 Sep 6:00PM

  5. that's it

    From Blessing, on Tue 23 Sep 5:57PM

  6. A fine of £25,000????? That's probably less than­ what Ronaldo is spending on hair gel, so no harm­ done!
    Riley, blowing the whistle everytime a fly­ crossed the pitch, looked like a scared mouse among­ that stirred herd, with everyone wanting to get even­ with everyone..

    From Malaguena S, on Tue 23 Sep 4:07PM

  7. paulwalker are u dreaming, wake up, utd are in the­ champions league already.

    From hatirarami, on Tue 23 Sep 1:42PM

  8. What a stupid ending. I thought Riley blew for fowl on­ Drogba but the man did for ending. How can it be. If­ he wanted to end the game why not before the incident. ­ What is Drogba had got serious injury that could lay­ him off for some months? Would he had ended the game­ so. In fact, i am sick and tired of English FA the way­ they run their game. What happened was a pure fowl on­ Drogba but I thought the freekick would be played and­ the game ended latter. I am not a Man U fan but I need­ fairplay in football as a player too. Arsenal for Live.

    From Luxy, on Tue 23 Sep 1:34PM

  9. who is this paul walker man u have won loads more than­ chelsea ever will.

    From Fiona, on Tue 23 Sep 12:01PM

  10. For God Sake. will you lot grow up.

    From Steveh, on Tue 23 Sep 11:33AM

  11. paulwalker70, amazing you have the insight to predict­ the end of season placings possibly you can tell us who­ is going to win

    From Tim B, on Tue 23 Sep 10:50AM

  12. if you man utd fans think you are going to be champs­ again tough luck you have no cance at all you wont even­ qualify for champs league

    From PAUL, on Tue 23 Sep 9:25AM

  13. Im a Man u Fan and i have t admit this fine is­ piontless its hardly going to hurt the bank balance is­ it.

    i cant be hte only one who thinks this whole­ respect the ref thing has fallen on its face ?

    From alan, on Tue 23 Sep 8:55AM

  14. man utd better than chelsea hehe!!

    From hoomalevickram, on Tue 23 Sep 7:11AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    man u deserved the fine, they should have player sent­ off in the chelsea game. they should have points­ deducted because of their discipline on the pitch. i­ remembered the scholes 's tackle should be a red­ card. no way he is going to get out of it. man u played­ pooly in that game. they could hve lost 3 or 4 nil.­ chelsea played much more better. i hate man u. their­ players dosen't look like a man, they are all­ monsters.

    newcastle fans

    From maggie, on Tue 23 Sep 2:42AM

  16. J.W.

    Almost spot on.

    Note, ALMOST.

    The Manure fans­ are not blinkered or brainless.

    They are blinkered AND­ brainless.

    Ferguson will be gone at the end of the­ season, when they finish BELOW CITY.

    From D, on Tue 23 Sep 1:59AM

  17. ANYONE that knows ANYTHING about football, knows full­ well that Manure are just a bunch of arrogant,­ obnoxious, deluded cheats.

    If you ever wondered what­ the true meaning of filthy scu* was, take one look at­ Gary Neville.

    There's your answer.

    BLUE MOON­ RISING.

    From D, on Tue 23 Sep 1:56AM

  18. they can't help it. the rough game was kinda­ expected.

    From rockergirl, on Tue 23 Sep 12:33AM

  19. not going to try and be @#$% utd dut this his not the­ thirst time thay have had that ment yellow cards in a­ game his it?

    From mick.hatton, on Tue 23 Sep 12:08AM

  20. lol £25000, thats worth about what, 5p to us, whats the­ point, they should start issuing player bans for mass­ bookings

    From luke.elliff, on Mon 22 Sep 10:20PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account