Yes, they’re far less than Fergie time

Former referee reveals Fergie’s controversial approach as figures reveal Manchester United’s extra time has been slashed under Moyes

Aformer FA Cup final and European Championship referee has spoken out about what he claims are manipulative tactics adopted by Sir Alex Ferguson during his tenure as Manchester United manager.

And it’s emerged under Ferguson, United were given an average of 40 seconds more added time when losing at Old Trafford than current manager David Moyes.

Speaking on YouTube-based sports chat show Sportlobster TV, Dermot Gallagher claims Fergie employed underhand tactics in order to give United a better chance of winning the Premier League title at Old Trafford in 1997.

Describing one particular incident Gallagher recalls:“I remember going to Old Trafford at the end of the season. Manchester United had three games that week and I was given the game on the Bank Holiday Monday. It was chucking it down with rain and Fergie pulled me aside and said ‘do me a favour, call the game off’. I asked why and he said ‘there’s nowhere else to fit this game in and the Premier League will have to extend the season. We’ll have a better chance of winning the match and we’ll win the league at Old Trafford’.”

At half time United were losing 3-1 and the pitch was like a swimming pool. As we came off he said ‘I know we’re 3-1 down but please call it off, we could do with a hand here’. They managed to pull it back to 3-3 and in the last minute Dennis Irwin ran into the box and went down in front of the Stretford End and I only gave a goal kick.

“At full time Fergie sprinted across the pitch and shouted at me furiously. My wife said, ‘Fergie had a right go at you about that penalty didn’t he’. I told her he hadn’t mentioned the penalty. She asked why he came tearing across the pitch at me then. The truth is he ran over and asked me if I was going out to dinner that night. I said ‘no’ and he asked ‘why are we leaving so early then?”

Ferguson was no stranger to falling out with referees during his time in the dugout and since his retirement last May he has been accused of having undue influence during his tenure. Last year official, Mark Halsey, famously referred to having a ‘good relationship’ with the Scot. In 2012 the BBC discovered ‘Fergie time’, the perception his team was given extra time when they were losing, was in fact real.

Their findings showed United were given an average of 79 seconds extra when losing after 90 minutes. United under Moyes have been given an average of 40 seconds extra when losing at Old Trafford – a difference of 39 seconds. Incidentally, United have so far scored only once in injury time under Moyes and that was during injury time of extra time. It would seem United continue to receive favourable treatment from referees – the difference is they have been unable to take advantage since Sir Alex’s departure.

The Old Trafford crowd is equally as responsible for influencing key refereeing decisions. Gallagher goes on to say: “Years and years ago one of the referees had a heart monitor on during a match at Old Trafford. They were assessing it and suddenly it jumped and went through the roof. They looked at the DVD and he’d just turned down a penalty in front of the Stretford End. The pressure is immense. However, I refereed 50 matches at Old Trafford and only gave one penalty, which was to the opposition.”

The fear factor associated with Ferguson or the Old Trafford faithful looks to have faded away. United, who lie mid-table in the Premier League, have suffered a turbulent season under Moyes and the tide seem to have turned with regards the perception of key refereeing decisions given in the champions’ favour.

The handpicked heir to Ferguson landed himself in hot water with the Football Association after he launched a tirade against referee Andre Marriner following his performance in the Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg against Sunderland. Moyes claimed United were ‘playing against referees as well as the opposition’. Furthermore, he lamented the ‘scandalous’ decision from Howard Webb to deny Ashley Young a penalty in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur – one of the five defeats at Old Trafford before February.

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