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Fergie: Respect referees
22/03/2008 22:03 - (SA)
London - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has joined the growing campaign to get players to treat match referees with more respect.
The matter has become a major talking point in England following last weekend's Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham when England defender Ashley Cole turned his back on referee Mike Riley as he tried to book him for a wild tackle on Alan Hutton.
The Cole incident came just a day after the Football Association launched a grass-roots trial scheme, whereby only captains can speak to referees, aimed at improving the situation.
Ferguson said he backed these efforts and insisted he would not accept similar behaviour from his own team.
The Scot feels United have learned from an infamous incident in 2000 when a group of players, led by former captain Roy Keane, chased referee Andy D'Urso after he awarded Middlesbrough a controversial penalty.
"We had a pivotal moment a few years ago when my players surrounded Andy D'Urso," Ferguson said.
"I was off my head with them, I thought it was ridiculous. It never happened again.
"We tell them to shake the hand of the referee after the game, when it is finished.
Ridiculous
"It is sometimes difficult but you have to do it, in the same way as when you lose a game and you invite the opposing manager in for a drink after the game.
"I saw the other night one of my players changed his jersey with one of the Bolton players who had committed 10 fouls against him.
"I said that was good because the match was over, all forgotten, we move on with life. I think that's what we have to do.
"We are talking about introducing this into the grass-roots level, respect for the referee. It is absolutely correct.
"The haranguing of referees is ridiculous, we know that.''
United next take on fierce rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday having gone three points clear at the top of the league and Ferguson says he expects the atmosphere to be electric.
"You can't avoid the intensity of it, the tension, the atmosphere.
"The Liverpool game brings out a certain anticipation in players. It's a game players all want to play in, so we'll have some disappointed players who are not playing.
"Liverpool coming to our ground, a derby game, is always a difficult game." - Sapa-AFP
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