Premier League - Wiley calls for end to Fergie row

PA Sport - Tue, 24 Nov 14:07:00 2009

Alan Wiley has decided against suing Sir Alex Ferguson for defamation but expressed his "bitter disappointment" with the Manchester United manager's attack on his fitness.

2009-10 Premier League Manchester United Alex Ferguson - 0

Ferguson was given a four-match touchline ban, two of them suspended, and a £20,000 fine by the FA for saying Wiley "just wasn't fit enough" to officiate in United's 2-2 draw with Sunderland in October.

The United manager has apologised for his remarks and referees' union Prospect confirmed Wiley would not be pursuing a case for defamation against Ferguson.

"Although I was bitterly disappointed about the personal attack on me I want to put this behind me and continue to concentrate on my refereeing," said Wiley.

Prospect has also written to the FA to seek greater support for referees and calling for stronger action if there are similar attacks in the future.

Prospect national secretary Alan Leighton said: "Unwarranted and untrue attacks on referees damage the hard-earned reputation of our members, call into question their integrity and damage the image of the game by suggesting that the referees are incapable of doing their job.

"Referees understand and accept that their decisions will be questioned, but personal attacks are unacceptable."

Leighton also defended Prospect against criticism that it had chose this case to become very publicly involved.

He added: "Prospect adopted a policy when we started representing referees four years ago that we would not make public comment on every criticism made by ex-referees or managers.

"The seriousness of the recent attack forced the union to depart from that policy. We will, however, continue to defend members where their professionalism is publicly questioned."

PA Sport

Comment 22 - 41 of 41

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  1. please leave FERGUSON alone. your says has nothing to­ do with his record in ENGLAND. up..up..up MANCHESTER­ UNITED

    From Akoche, on Wed 25 Nov 11:35AM

  2. Don't worry Fergie, this is funny:­ lfc-endofseasonparty with a Dot&com

    From optimus prime, on Wed 25 Nov 10:31AM

  3. comment from 22..rubbish..trash...stupid...

    From donshargon, on Wed 25 Nov 8:02AM

  4. get a life now ur to old do something else with ur life

    From tarrongavin1, on Wed 25 Nov 3:09AM

  5. shame on SAF..haha

    From john t, on Wed 25 Nov 2:34AM

  6. bacon face -------- nuff said

    From Brizzie Blue, on Wed 25 Nov 12:52AM

  7. goodbye and adeus to you fair spanish waiter..goodbye­­ and adeus to benitez from spain..for the trophy­­ received order to sail back to sir alex...and so­­ nevermore shall we see you again!!

    From Saurov, on Wed 25 Nov 12:27AM

  8. Ferguson is a @#$%, He and Man U get away with murder,­ they think they can run the game as they want. Good on­ you, fine should be double and ban should be for life.­ get rid of the to**er.

    From GARY, on Tue 24 Nov 10:27PM

  9. It was the worst referee performance this season. ­ Fergie was kind to blame it on physical fitness alone.

    From monicabroseddueso, on Tue 24 Nov 9:29PM

  10. danissssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh­ hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    From mike, on Tue 24 Nov 8:49PM

  11. So people are upset that Sir Alex called a ref unfit­ ...yet these SAME people see nothing wrong in calling­ him senlle, a drunkard, pizza face, bacon face etc. etc­ ....so what should YOUR punishment be?

    From Chill, on Tue 24 Nov 7:30PM

  12. Sick to death of pizza face and his rants, 20K fine and­ 2 match touchline ban wont teach him a thing, how many­ more times will he be allowed to get away with this­ childish behaviour every time a decision goes against­ him, what he needs is to be sued or a very large stiff­ c0 ck up his arse, whichever hurts the most !

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Tue 24 Nov 7:01PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I was at the game and SAF does have a point - when the­ goal was scored, Wiley was half way in Sunderland's­ half. It seems a ref can't accept he makes a­ mistake or take any critism without crying about it -­ whats more rediculous is getting litigous! How many­ games are now being ruined by ref's! Ireland/­ France, Chelsea/ United, Liverpool and the balloon­ incident. There has not been once a ref seems to have­ held his hand up apologised and said "sorry, I­ made a mistake". It's more, "yupee, now I­ can try and extract publicity so I can earn some money­ from my autobiography". Lets hope this all stops­ and we can get back to the quality of refereeing that­ there used to be in the 60's, 70's and­ 80's.

    From Derek, on Tue 24 Nov 6:52PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    what a load of @#$%....doesnt anyone remember jose­ mourinho and his arrogance and rants???? ytf were all­ your mouths closed then...?? stupid retarded­ hypocrites.

    From sunil_mufc, on Tue 24 Nov 6:51PM

  15. Fergie is out of control and no longer knows his­ place,this should be a lesseon for him,he is not above­ the law,period.

    From ICEMAN, on Tue 24 Nov 6:34PM

  16. Ferguson was very lucky not to sue by the REF.Next­­ time­ he won't be so lucky.

    From Wt, on Tue 24 Nov 6:27PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Referees should wear one of those devices that monitor­ their "well-being"--but that day, the referee­ did look like he was finding it hard to keep up with­ the United boys.

    From Moviebuff, on Tue 24 Nov 6:24PM

  18. WHY IS IT HE ONLY FOUND THE REF UNFIT WHEN MAN UTD­ COULD NOT WIN.WOULD HE SAY THAT IF THEY HAD WON?WHEN­ FLETCHER GOT AWAY WITH A BLATANT PENALTY ON ARSHAVIN­ AND KEPT FOULING PLAYERS WITHOUT BEEN SHOWN A YELLOW­ CARD DID HE SEE THE REF UNFIT OR BIASED?OR PLAYING­ EXTRA 7mins FOR MAN UTD TO BEAT MAN CITY.HOPE HE MAKES­ THE SAME COMMENTS IN EUFA CL AND SEE IF HE WILL GET­ AWAY SO LIGHTLY.

    From valach, on Tue 24 Nov 6:19PM

  19. I would agree with comment 15 but only if Referees were­ given the same licence.

    From Ross H, on Tue 24 Nov 6:13PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    once again big gobs got off lightly

    From NO 1 GARDENER, on Tue 24 Nov 6:05PM
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