CONMEN KILLING FOOTBALL

SIr Alex lashes out

ATTACK - Sir Alex Ferguson

By JEREMY BUTLER, 16/08/2009

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has launched a blistering attack on the Premier League cheats he accuses of killing the game he loves.

On the day Sport of the World announces a nationwide campaign to crack down on dissent, the Manchester United manager fired both barrels at the players who con referees by feigning injury.

As he prepared for the champions' opening game against Birmingham at Old Trafford this afternoon, Fergie stormed: "The players are killing the game. The players' unprofessionalism is killing the game - not the referees."

Ferguson is so incensed at the conmen he has ordered his players NOT to kick the ball out of play when an opposition player is down injured.

And he is calling on the FA to act quickly and crack down on the cheats.

Ferguson fumed: "It's absolutely ridiculous and something has to be done about it.

"Players are getting stick and kicking the ball out, and the fans are whistling because people stop playing. The other players are as guilty as the guy lying down.

"They have no idea what is wrong with the guy lying down. Most of the time there is nothing wrong with him at all.

"The problem is how much the referee can tolerate when the players go down.

"There is no doubt it has been exploited to ridiculous degrees now. I don't know how to stop it."

Ferguson accused Michael Ballack of play-acting in last Sunday's Community Shield defeat to Chelsea.

Fergie was furious Wembley ref Chris Foy stopped the game when the Blues' German midfielder appeared to be injured - but allowed play to continue in the build-up to Chelsea's second goal after Ballack had elbowed Patrice Evra.

"If the ref sees Ballack's challenge properly, it's a red card," insisted Fergie. "He's clearly elbowed him. But the referee made a rod for his own back. He'd stopped the game twice already: when Nani was down - he had a dislocated shoulder - and on a second occasion when Ballack was down. We've seen that before with Ballack.

"I spoke to the ref and he said it was a serious incident and he needed treatment, but the player was up straight away."

United's players sportingly booted the ball out of play to allow Ballack treatment - and that's what so incensed them in the build-up to the Frank Lampard strike that put Chelsea 2-1 ahead. The game eventually ended in a penalty shoot-out win for the Blues.

Fergie added: "Referees' chief Keith Hackett said three years ago the players were being instructed NOT to kick the ball out.

"I spoke to the players here and told them not to kick the ball out, to let the ref decide. For instance, a head injury could happen and we let the referee stop the game. That is the criteria we are working on, but the players wouldn't do it.

"If the players don't put the ball out they get stick off the opposing players and opposing fans, so they kick it out.

"It's so stupid. You could be attacking the last third and you put the ball out and it ends up back with your goalkeeper when they kick the ball back. We have just overdone it, overcooked the whole thing."

Meanwhile, Fergie has amazingly admitted he is motivated by a FEAR OF FAILURE.

Despite 11 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League titles, the Scot revealed he has never felt totally safe in his job.

He jokes about being currently "bulletproof" as a ball has yet to be kicked, but added: "I have never thought that way. I have always had that feeling of fear. That feeling of failure. Even now it is with me.

"Failure is waiting for the ones that are complacent.

"Every manager is under the same umbrella. It is a result industry. It is a must win industry."

Your comments

This article has 73 comments

I agree that divers ruin the game. As an aussie i love the epl and cant get enough but as some people have pointed out the money is the major issue. Over here we have salary caps, but the epl clubs just put a price on a bloke and off he goes!. Although after that point, Sir Alex had the biggest cheater in the game at his club last season. Alright for ronaldo to dive, as long as its in a Man U shirt :) Hypocritcal.

By x man.. Posted August 20 2009 at 11:55 PM.

All I can say to all you people who passed negative comments, it's not the players or the referee's that are killing the game, it's big business and money that is killing the game. No longer is it about sportsmanship, but money.

Take Ballack or Drogba, these are probably two of the biggest divers in the world of football and everyone knows it. But if they attack a referee( Champions League semi final) they get there punishment reduced because big money moves in. How many times have we seen this happen, last year Terry had two red cards repealed but no one seems to remember that

Fergie is right, that bad sportsmanship and cheats are killing the game. To all those who saw fit just to to criticise the passed reputations and actions of players and managers the game and rules have changed, business is king, it's not the old game that needs to change it 's the current game.

Lets get back to playing football before it becomes like Ferrari F1, more money spent in court, than on winning fairly.

Good on you Fergie!!!

By concerned.. Posted August 17 2009 at 8:20 AM.

I have to admit, I had to look again to make sure this was Fergie it was referring to here. What a joke this is. I saw Fergie as a player. He was a cheat, one of the biggest actually. I saw him as a manager of East Stirling. He was a cheat there too always conning refs. St. Mirren. The same. Aberdeen. Even worse. He is a cheat through and through who uses intimidating tactics to refs and managers alike. He had all his players, Willie Miller, Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish crowd and even man-handle refs until they got decisions their way.
At Man Utd, he has not only had and played, but encouraged guys like Ronaldo and Rooney to cheat constantly. Fergie is the biggest cheat the game in the UK has ever seen.

By Joe.. Posted August 17 2009 at 6:38 AM.

You dont crown failues fergie knows it.

By Clif wahome.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:52 PM.

Old do as I say, not as I do Fergie strikes again

By Steve.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:18 PM.

I thank sir alex fergusion for developend the team.

By jusu kamara.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:59 PM.

He's right, players will just act to be injured to stop play and run like mad when they get back up again. It's silly and should be banned. The problem is getting it done.

By Brainsnack.. Posted August 16 2009 at 1:47 PM.

I agree with all he says, but unfortunately I would also agree with King Herod if he spoke out for child welfare, and this is about the same degree.

With Ronaldo's antics last season, and the petulant behavior that Fergi instills in ALL his own players, the only words that can be said of him speaking out on this issue is pure hypocrisy. Or does Fergie think that now he has got shot of Ronaldo, he suddenly becomes whiter than white?

By all means deal with such cheats, but deal with the total lack of discipline by both Fergie AND his players as well - it's all part an parcel of the same thing.

By Tony.. Posted August 16 2009 at 2:09 PM.

fergie you are the best con artist i have seen
managers like u...and players like c.ronaldo
are ruining the game we love.
luck and refs are always on your side
and you keep on complaining.
it will be agood day for english football to see u go.
what a hypocrite...take a look in the mirror.

By football fan.. Posted August 16 2009 at 2:02 PM.

Ferguson is the biggest cheat going.

Im sure he teaches his players in training to dive. Ronaldo & Evra style

By Andy Jones.. Posted August 16 2009 at 12:54 PM.

After years of having the best diver in the game at old Trafford fergie is only worried that other teams will get more of the decisions.Thus complain about it refs do somthing about it so he and his team won't be on the wrong end of a ronaldo like situation. Fergie ain't got that weapon anymore so cry and stop others using it. Double standards I think

By Mark Keyte.. Posted August 16 2009 at 12:53 PM.

At least Ferguson is able to write a few words without spelling mistakes and bad grammar. The standard of English in these threads is abysmal!

By Alan Hogg.. Posted August 16 2009 at 12:45 PM.

how on earth can you call fergie an 'idiot' or a 'drunk'. sorry i didnt realise 11 english titles, 5 fa cups, 2 champs leagues and a club world cup. and what he did at aberdeen. sorry you must have forgotten. yeah he must not know what hes talking about. fluke

By olly aspey.. Posted August 16 2009 at 12:04 PM.

OK, if you mean what you say Ferguson, start by stopping your own team from cheating. Simple!

By Gary.. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:59 AM.

As a Chelsea fan i agree with what he says. He may have his own motive for bringing up the subject but he has a point. Most of the points managers make are valid or they wouldnt say them. Fergie says things like this to influence refs and other managers, and he does it well, and every time there is an avalanche of angry responses.... why?

The most annoying divers are the ones that role around on the ground in agony but still have the control and energy to argue with their attacker, while holding onto their broken bones... Drogba included, but that clown Eboue takes the biscuit!

By Iain.. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:58 AM.

alex ferguson can now say this because he has sold the worst cheat ever to grace a football pitch and that was the spotty berk christiano ronaldo. ferguson your such a hypocrite.your the first one to harangue the fourth official and your team are the worst cheats ever so stop whingeing you deplorable liitle man

By firmbuttocks.. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:39 AM.

I totally agree with Fergie at the fact of players remaining on the ground at the least contact especially when they lose a ball and their team suffers a counter. This should really be stopped. It's getting worse every time. Referees ONLY should take the responsability to stop the game and not the players on the pitch or the supporters on the stands

By Silvio Attard(Malta).. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:38 AM.

Hmm... Pot. Kettle. Black.

By judy.. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:38 AM.

What? So If you guys were managers and had c.ronaldo in you're team you'd be telling the press he's a cheat would you? Idiots.

By man u.. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:17 AM.

SAF has won more trophies than any manager in the history of the english game and yet people are going on about double standards and hypocrisy!? Maybe some of you should take a look at what you're saying as well as taking a look at the players in your own teams before spouting off again! No team in the premier league is devoid of players who cheat once in a while, but it's still the good football that wins the competitions. You're jealousy is pathetic.

By M.. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:12 AM.

funny how ferguson now wants the ref to stop the game didnt he have a diver who lay down every time he lost the ball ronaldo was such a wimp at times get back in your shell ferguson seem he has a short memory

By dave.. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:28 AM.

I can't believe the crap that comes out of this idiots mouth. He had the worst cheat ever in falldowno, he had the worst footballing cheats than any other team in the country.
He should keep his disrespectful and arrogant comments to himself.
The F.A should fine him for his unbelievable rants every season.
You lost last week fair and aquare.

By bonnythescouser.. Posted August 16 2009 at 11:06 AM.

Ferguson is reuining football please just crawl back to the hole you came from

By Jake.. Posted August 16 2009 at 10:46 AM.

Unlucky 2 Fergie, its just a game and Chelsea won it what a sore loser

By Jake.. Posted August 16 2009 at 10:45 AM.

here he goes again making out the rest of football is to blame not his team.new season same old rubbish

By brian wilson.. Posted August 16 2009 at 10:34 AM.

What a hypocrite.

By MarmK.. Posted August 16 2009 at 10:30 AM.

well done sir alex, you got the point across and the fifa guys are judging, you need 35 new goals this season ok berb scored the same as rooney last year, owen is the man. I see a hat trick sunday.

By silly balls.. Posted August 16 2009 at 10:16 AM.

Considering that Evra had stepped on Ballacks chest and Ballack just need a few secs to get his breathe back it isn't his fault the ref mistook the situation. Unlike Fergie's blatant rubbish about this elbow, everyone could see it was a shoulder block, but it was Evra that decided to stay down feigning injury and try and get the game stopped and his team mates only wanted the game stopped after they lost possession.

By Tom.. Posted August 16 2009 at 10:12 AM.

You have won your Trophy's and Laurel's for Man U.Now its timne time for you to go and let us enjoy a good game of football without your shouting. complaining,harassing referees and above all bring hate between Clubs and Players.

By Josant.. Posted August 16 2009 at 10:00 AM.

UTD R da best! rest R rubbish!!!

By Fahad Man U Fan.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:55 AM.

watching from Oz each week...

my thought: don't allow the injured back on for 5 minutes....I'm sure most of them will be back on there feet n no time!!!

By jacqui murphy.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:55 AM.

Whatever the reasons are for what Sir Alex has said, his words are a true reflection on the state of football not just in this country but everywhere. Lets get back to the basics so we can all enjoy.

By John.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:55 AM.

The manager is to blame for all gamesmanship and cheating. If I was the manager I would sub the player and dock his salary for bringing the club into disrepute.
Its that simple, SAF and some other managers must have training sessions on being able to fall over from the slightest touch.

By Bill.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:50 AM.

one word: RONALDO

STFU Ferguson. Great football coach. No honor.

By Aaron.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:49 AM.

spike,arsenal meerkat,joseph,david h,the geeza,croc,gleo,and many more of you want can i say you have said it all for me and are all right.

By jimmy t.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:37 AM.

SAF speaks out against gamesmanship?????

You gotta larf, ain'tcha?

By Panchopuskas.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:34 AM.

Hypocrite - Utd players are and always have been the worst offenders - it is them that have ruined foot ball!

By bazzer.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:32 AM.

IfSAFt genuinely believes that - they start at home with Evra.

Now there is one big cheat - nearly always feigning injury and trying to get players booked.

By Frank.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:28 AM.

Sir Alex is talking about cheat and dive now coz c ronaldo is no more playing for him.SHAME ON U FERGIE.

By buah touray.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:26 AM.

Haters! I see so many comments from peaple shedding their skins to refeal the bitter green monster within. Fergie is by far the greatest manager the world has known. his words must be respected!

By Ozwaldo.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:14 AM.

What a sad old man!

By philip pace.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:10 AM.

Rank hypocracy! Ronaldo,Beckham,Rooney...I don't remember him ONCE criticise them for falling over a blade of grass!

By BobtheBaker.. Posted August 16 2009 at 9:02 AM.

i think old farmer face is being left out of the press lately and he's doing his "jimmy hill" impressions, say something outrageous to provoke a reaction from the masses just to get himself back into the limelight.if he is genuine in what he says then it doesnt surprise me one bit. he's got no one as good as ronacto to get his free kicks for him anymore so he wants refs to clamp down on it . DOUBLE STANDARDS FERGUSON !

By gleo.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:55 AM.

fergie's blue eyed boy scholes dived in the penalty area of the 2003 league cup final and he said NOTHING. fergie is the biggest cheat there is, whether its tapping up players or encouraging them to dive, intimidate the ref etc. what a hypocrite!

By paul r.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:48 AM.

I see Cur Alex the Drunk has started again. When is this sad old man going to retire? How the hell can he have a go at the cheats in the game when his team give a master class in cheating week in week out. Ronaldo was the biggest cheat ever to play in this country. Ferguson just shut the F**k up and get your own house in order.

By Poppa .. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:42 AM.

Children, this is why you shouldn't drink too much whiskey! The guy who had Ronaldo is talking about cheats! Oh the irony!

By Gav.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:40 AM.

I think old fergie is a hypicrit! The boy wonder ronaldo is one of the biggest cheats ive ever seen. And correct me if im wrong (i never read the book) but didnt Yap Stam say fergie had told the players to dive? We see his mind games games year in year out especially with the managers of the clubs who threaten him - Keegan, Wenger, Jose, Rafa and now Sparky. Its when the others managers retorte that fergie usually wins. Being a CITY fan im happy to see Sparky just laughing at him and saying its because he was a crap footballer he comes out with all this drivel. Time to go now red nose the REAL MANCHESTER club is about to take over.

By John Reid.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:36 AM.

Wazza a cheat ??? Ya, the guy is a bit hot-tempered but is in no way a cheat. ManUtd haven't won 18 titles just by cheating you know.

By RichieM.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:36 AM.

as a united fan i think fergie's comment are a bit hypocritical. Ronaldo was a big diver and went down easier than a pro! on the other hand every team has got a diver. gerrard,drogba,robinho etc. they all dive! because they are so good at conning the referee. if i thought i could mug the ref and win a pen id do it aswell.

By gaz.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:34 AM.

He had the biggest cheat of the lot in his team, Ronaldo

By Phil.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:29 AM.

i know where fergie is comeing from you only have to look at the antics of drogba and ballack year in year out especially drogba he limps around after cheating his way to win a free kick and then within seconds he is good as gold fans from all teams hate seeing antics like that thats why i was delighted when man utd knoced them out of the champions league final and barcelona last year what goes around comes around

By paul.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:19 AM.

How on earth can Ferguson criticise when for years he and his players are always harassing the referee, and appear for a lot of the game to be doing their best to injure an opposition player ?.
Main culprit being Rooney. Followed by a couple of the other old age pensioners.
Remember that greaseball, Ronaldo.
He spent more time on his knees appealing for a non-existing offence because he was out classed.
Then there is Ferguson himself. Look at the attack with shouting and finger pointing when he rushed on to the pitch after last weeks Charity Shield match.
Fergie is a blustering soon to be proved LOSER.

By F.H.. Posted August 16 2009 at 8:11 AM.

ARROGANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By elnino.. Posted August 16 2009 at 7:56 AM.

SAF is a legend!!!

By bryan.. Posted August 16 2009 at 7:40 AM.

Here we go again!!

Ferguson doesn't like it when he loses so he blames other people...He's just a bad loser and is getting a very sad old man...his side is full of cheats and he needs to put his own house in order...would we have heard from him if he had beaten Chelsea?...No of course not...It seems that Evra has taken over from the despicable Ronaldo...so Ferguson...sort yurself out ...you're so predictable... the usual boring rantings of a drunk!!

By TheBrigadier.. Posted August 16 2009 at 7:34 AM.

One of the greatest acts of diving I ever saw in my lifetime was by one wayne rooney! Ferguson didn't condemn it! He blamed the victim sol campbel

By gml.. Posted August 16 2009 at 7:29 AM.

Time to go ferguson you raved about the biggest CHEAT the world has ever seen and your squad supported it. not one of your mob ever said to you or the CHEAT that we as english men don't do that sort of thing and stay on our feet as a matter of pride. you have now become a JOKE after all you have achieved in the game you will be remembered as a hypocrite. to much red wine

By croc.. Posted August 16 2009 at 7:29 AM.

Yeah maybe he's forgetting a certain C. Ronaldo, oh wait, didnt he kill the game for you with his diving etc back then Fergie? Lol

By Ahmet Tekin.. Posted August 16 2009 at 7:26 AM.

I thought this was outlawed....talking about referees before a game. Good old Rednose, trying to put the pressure on referees. Well he had the biggest con artist in Ronaldo.

By Arsenal411.. Posted August 16 2009 at 7:00 AM.

Laughable ... Ronaldo was the biggest cheat around once he got into the box ... Sir obviously never told him to stop ... Sir needs to get his own house in order before he opens his big mouth and moans about everyone else ...

By The Geezer.. Posted August 16 2009 at 6:35 AM.

HYPOCRITE!

By Theoneandonly.. Posted August 16 2009 at 6:11 AM.

Pot calling Kettle black. Considering he kept silent when Beckham (y'all remember how that right leg cocked followed by the fall before a tackle came in = guaranteed free kick) and Ronaldo were at it for years, to start slating divers now is hypocritical. Mind you thats Fergie all over!!!

By David H.. Posted August 16 2009 at 3:19 AM.

As a match going red of 41yrs, on many occasions i've cringed with embarassment at the number of times Ronny has decided to dive instead of trying to maintain his balance. The trouble is ALL of them dive,Gerard,Drogba,Fabregas et al.
If play continued whilst the physio was allowed to "treat" the injured player, then we would all be witness to miracles that would be on a par with anything the bible has to offer!

By steve mc evoy.. Posted August 16 2009 at 2:56 AM.

Fergies hypocrisy is staggering!!...last week we saw evra rolling around the ground after ballacks challenge, then immediately challenging the ref after chelsea scored there 2nd goal.

By jim.. Posted August 16 2009 at 2:48 AM.

All you who attack Fergie's criticism of the players who cheat have the ostrich mentality.

By Pere Challi.. Posted August 16 2009 at 2:37 AM.

and the fact that ronaldo probably the biggest cheat was a united player and dived etc week in week out while a man u player never upset fergie? Once again his hypocrisy is staggering

By Joseph.. Posted August 16 2009 at 2:08 AM.

funny how Fergie goes on about the cheats ruining the game when he's just let go of that Winker fella, funny how he didnt mention that last season.

By Arsenal Meerkat.. Posted August 16 2009 at 2:07 AM.

With his managerial record, he knows what he's talking about.

As for Rooney is a cheat & a diver, from that comment alone its quite obvious you don't watch much football.

By Geoff True Red.. Posted August 16 2009 at 1:37 AM.

how dare you call rooney a terrible cheat and a diver....spike ..1st rooney is no diver he works his sock off for man utd...and what make's me laugh more is when he plays for ENGLAND you will be 1 of those t*****S THAT cheer him on and expect him to do well ..... ALL I CAN SAY TO U IS S.C.U.M. your not a football fan, im a red through and though but dont go round calling gerard a diver .... hes a rival but what i call a cracking player so dont call wayne a diver when you no itz s**t........ps your not a football fan ..................!!!

By reddodger.. Posted August 16 2009 at 1:26 AM.

His next job is as a stand up comedian

By Bluze.. Posted August 16 2009 at 1:20 AM.

Its simple, just copy rugby and let the physio on and continue with the game. How long would the cheats be lying down if the game continues, i think we all know the answer to that. This is far too obvious for the clowns at FIFA to introduce though

By PB1970.. Posted August 16 2009 at 1:16 AM.

Give the dog a Bone ,down boy.

By lehunk.. Posted August 16 2009 at 1:04 AM.

How hilarious that a manager that had a cheat like Cronaldo in his team has the bare faced cheek to slam cheats! Not only the Portugese winker, but Rooney is a terrible cheat and diver.

What a joker Fergie is!

By Spike.. Posted August 16 2009 at 12:28 AM.

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