"Oh hurrah I've just scored a title winning goal! How splendid."
The United boss was typically candid when speaking about United’s treatment at the hands of English football’s governing body to The Mail.
The Mail notes:
Sir Alex Ferguson has prefaced the new football season by turning the spotlight on the Football Association, claiming there is ‘an unfair focus on Manchester United on disciplinary issues’.
The United manager cited ‘possible resentment about the club because of our success since the Premier League began’.
‘I think that has something to do with it really,’ said Ferguson.
It will always be there and I think we know that. I don’t really know whether it’s about me or the club. That’s a difficult one. They have certainly always found a way to treat us differently.
‘It has been happening for a while now and they always seem to find a way to do us when, with others, it’s seemingly forgotten.’
Ferguson was banned for five matches and fined £30,000 last season for criticising referee Martin Atkinson after United’s defeat at Chelsea, the latest in a long list of battles he has had with the FA.
He was also furious when Wayne Rooney was banned for two games for his outburst into a television camera during victory at West Ham, leading to the manager accusing the FA of victimising United.
‘Personally, I felt hard-done-by last season but it’s always difficult and I’m not wanting to get involved with it, to be honest,’ said Ferguson.
‘It doesn’t bother me one bit. I defend my club and that’s my job. Part of the problem is that when I make comments, the media are on to the FA right away.’
‘Then they feel forced to do something and they are afraid of what might happen if they don’t. There is no consistency in the disciplinary situation. We all know that.’
Practically every United would agree with Sir Alex’s view that the club are often the subject of harsh treatment by the FA who seem to have a ‘one rule for United another for everyone else’ policy.
United fans may sing “We’re Man United we’ll do what we want,” but maybe its the clowns at Lancaster Gate who should adopt that chant.