Rafa Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson face the wrath of an Football Association who do not see the funny side of the managers of Liverpool and Manchester United.
While many might have chuckled at Sir Alex questioning Alan Wiley's fitness, no one is laughing at the FA's headquarters.
And, while the spectacles joke of the Liverpool boss has badly backfired, the FA Commission are more likely to say "he should have gone to SpecSavers" when they hand out the punishment.
Benitez's case comes up on Tuesday morning, and the defence will be producing the audio and video evidence of how the Liverpool manager reached for his pocket and brought out his glasses for its case, when he was asked about the performance of referee Phil Dowd after the opening day of the season defeat by Spurs.
The FA chamber will resonate to the sound of laughter as the audio/video "evidence" shows the assembled media laughing their heads off at the Benitez joke.
The FA, however, feel it was at the referees' expense, but in terms of being a personal attack, and unless the FA have a sense of humor, then Benitez is going to be fit with a fine, and maybe even a touch-line ban.
Next case on the agenda is Sir Alex. And, if Benitez gets away with just a fine, then Sir Alex will expect a degree of consistency, and would not take too kindly to a touch-line ban.
However, if the FA hit Benitez with a touch line ban for his glasses jibe at the ref, then Sir Alex can expect the same sort of treatment.
Sir Alex has apologized but retained his right to question the fitness levels of the ref, indeed referees in general as a point that might concern the game. No-one else, though, has raised it before, at least publicly.
While the Sir Alex "I'm sorry" official statement has not gone down well with the refs union, who are out for blood, it will not be seen as more than "damage limitation" on behalf of the FA.
The FA have given Sir Alex an extension to provide his written explanation as he is currently in New York, apparently property-hunting, having watched the Manchester City-Villa Premier League game in a sports bar.
The Sir Alex "sorry" statement was produced with the United boss still in New York, but it will cut little ice with the FA, when he returns this week to hand in his letter of explanation by Friday's extended deadline.
Charges are sure to follow and it will then be at Sir Alex's discretion whether he seeks a personal hearing.
While many might have chuckled at Sir Alex questioning Alan Wiley's fitness, no one is laughing at the FA's headquarters.
And, while the spectacles joke of the Liverpool boss has badly backfired, the FA Commission are more likely to say "he should have gone to SpecSavers" when they hand out the punishment.
Benitez's case comes up on Tuesday morning, and the defence will be producing the audio and video evidence of how the Liverpool manager reached for his pocket and brought out his glasses for its case, when he was asked about the performance of referee Phil Dowd after the opening day of the season defeat by Spurs.
The FA chamber will resonate to the sound of laughter as the audio/video "evidence" shows the assembled media laughing their heads off at the Benitez joke.
The FA, however, feel it was at the referees' expense, but in terms of being a personal attack, and unless the FA have a sense of humor, then Benitez is going to be fit with a fine, and maybe even a touch-line ban.
Next case on the agenda is Sir Alex. And, if Benitez gets away with just a fine, then Sir Alex will expect a degree of consistency, and would not take too kindly to a touch-line ban.
However, if the FA hit Benitez with a touch line ban for his glasses jibe at the ref, then Sir Alex can expect the same sort of treatment.
Sir Alex has apologized but retained his right to question the fitness levels of the ref, indeed referees in general as a point that might concern the game. No-one else, though, has raised it before, at least publicly.
While the Sir Alex "I'm sorry" official statement has not gone down well with the refs union, who are out for blood, it will not be seen as more than "damage limitation" on behalf of the FA.
The FA have given Sir Alex an extension to provide his written explanation as he is currently in New York, apparently property-hunting, having watched the Manchester City-Villa Premier League game in a sports bar.
The Sir Alex "sorry" statement was produced with the United boss still in New York, but it will cut little ice with the FA, when he returns this week to hand in his letter of explanation by Friday's extended deadline.
Charges are sure to follow and it will then be at Sir Alex's discretion whether he seeks a personal hearing.
No comments:
Post a Comment