Let’s be ‘FAIR’ and acknowledge the fact that the British tabloid The Daily Express is not exactly the most reputable newspaper on the planet. Let’s be just as ‘FAIR’ and admit that Manchester United fans like myself are biased towards their club. Let’s use that four letter word as the basis of this rant. Let’s be ‘FAIR’ and present what journalist Mick Dennis wrote in the rag during the last 48 hours. “Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest manager of the modern era, has made himself a laughing stock. The Manchester United boss has turned into a cross between Harry Enfield’s Kevin the teenager complaining that everything is so unfair and Kenneth Williams wailing “Infamy, infamy…they’ve all got it in for me.”
To use Dennis’ own words “What a carry on, one little word is at the kernel of Ferguson’s latest war with the rest of the world” he continues “it is the word “fair”. Unhappy with referee Martin Atkinson at Stamford Bridge, Fergie fumed “You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway, and we didn’t get that.” There it is according to Dennis, that word “fair” together with “the implication that Atkinson was biased”
But he was not finished yet. “So Fergie is facing an FA misconduct charge. United want us to believe they are the biggest club in the world” he continues “but they behaved with small minded pique by refusing to talk to any media outlet at Anfield on Sunday – even MUTV, who committed the heinous crime of broadcasting what Fergie said but whose subscribers are United fans. I am certain the old curmudgeon did not mean to impugn Atkinson’s integrity. He regretted the use of the word “fair” as soon as he’d said it and offered “strong” as a replacement adjective.”
Dennis then continued with his tirade “So why didn’t he say, straight away “I didn’t mean he was not fair”? Instead of pulling up the drawbridge, preparing to fight the FA and nursing his paranoia, why didn’t he just say another, little word “Sorry”?
If the man had the slightest amount of the objectivity which should be demanded from professional journalists, he would have asked other questions such as “Why are managers of high profile clubs EXPECTED to face the media minutes after a game?” and “Why are those managers COMPELLED by the authorities to answer anything at all?” As Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp correctly said “If they don’t like the answers, they have no right to ask the questions.” Now THAT’S what I call ‘FAIR’ Mr Dennis !
Is it fair for managers to be interviewed straight after a game?
