Sir Alex has finally apologised to referee Alan Wiley and the FA for his comments over the fitness of the referee post United vs Sunderland 2-2 draw. While the FA would still are bent to punish him, however, such a public act definitely would lead to a less severe punishment as compared to the previously proposed touchline ban.
Ferguson insists that, despite claiming Wiley was using bookings to give himself a breather, he has “always respected Mr Wiley’s integrity” and “did not state or imply that Mr Wiley was a bad referee or in any way biased.” He apologised – a rare sighting in Ferguson’s long and stubborn career – for the manner in which he had expressed his concerns about the fitness of referees but maintained that that the issue remained a “serious and important” one.
“I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views,” Ferguson said in a statement on the club’s website.In retrospect, I accept that this could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate forum.”
Fergie, who has been away in New York, will get in touch with Wiley after the international break to apologise directly. He and his defence team then have until Friday to respond to the FA’s request for an explanation of his comments.
