Source: SKY_Sports
FA tight-lipped on Fergie
Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has refused to comment on potential disciplinary action against Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson in the wake of his outburst at referee Alan Wiley.
Ferguson has been asked to explain himself by the FA after he aired his belief that Wiley was not physically fit to take charge of last weekend's late draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford.
With the FA attempting to promote a Respect programme in football, which is now in its second season, the United boss could be facing a possible touchline ban and a fine for his controversial comments.
However, while a regulatory authority continues to investigate the incident, Triesman has declined to give his view on whether Ferguson should be reprimanded.
"I am not going to talk about a case which is in our process," Triesman told Sky Sports News.
Opinion"It would be like talking about a court case in the middle of the process. I don't think that is right and I don't think it helps."
He added: "I won't go into the case. If you ask me to start commenting on a case which is in front of a court and I did, you would think, 'this guy has lost his marbles'.
"The football regulatory authority is a quasi-independent, in quotes, 'court in football'. That is exactly what it is."
Triesman, though, does not deem it correct for managers to give their opinion on the performance of referees, either before or after a match.
"I don't think that managers should ever comment on the impartiality of referees," he said.
Difficult"I don't think that it is ever right for them to say things in advance of a game which is going to be difficult.
"Broadly speaking, it is well worth looking at the hard data of referees because often they have been exemplary."
Despite the events of last weekend, which also saw Blackburn chief Sam Allardyce criticise match officials after his side were thumped 6-2 by Arsenal, Triesman believes Respect is having an impact.
"The Respect programme is showing some very healthy signs in grass roots football and, I think, in the professional leagues as well," he said.
"For the most part, referees have been saying that.
"Do we have a bad weekend from time to time? Well, yes. Will we need to make sure we press on? Yes."
