Fergie was never shy of having a word with the officials, but retired referee Dermot Gallagher has opened up about an incident involving the Scotsman towards the end his 1996/97 campaign. Here’s what he had to say.
‘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.”
The former referee also highlighted the intense pressure and anxiety that the officials were subjected to when key decisions were not awarded in favour of Manchester United.
Under Fergie, an average of 79 extra seconds were played in added time whenever Manchester United were trailing at Old Trafford. This figure has since significantly dropped to just around 40 extra seconds under new boss David Moyes.
Incidentally, United have only scored once in injury time under Moyes and that was during injury time of extra time.
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