Sir Alex Ferguson could find the time to hobnob with the new Labour leader, Ed Miliband, yesterday but has saved himself the bother of conveying any message to fans through independent media sources.
The Manchester United manager has cancelled yet another press conference today, having taken exception to coverage of his remarks after his team's 3-2 win over Liverpool 11 days ago. Ferguson accused Fernando Torres of making "an absolute meal" of a challenge by John O'Shea, saying: "There is no doubt he tried to get the player sent off."
A few newspapers interpreted the comments as an accusation that Torres was cheating and Ferguson does not like that, prompting his withdrawal from all press-conference duties.
Rights holders such as TalkSport and Absolute Radio will also be subject to the ban despite – like many newspapers – never having made mention of the offending term in their coverage.
His actions may have more impact other than to draw attention once again to the use, in a section of the media, of the word "cheat" if it were not so far from the first time that Ferguson has withdrawn his co‑operation.
To name only a few, there was the famous Juan Sebastián Verón rant in 2002 – "youse are all idiots" – and the curtailing of a Uefa press conference in Moscow last October, as well as the years-old refusal to talk to the BBC – a feud that from this season has started to cost him money in Premier League fines.
Perhaps it is the recognition that his tantrum suspensions are wearing thin that has led Ferguson to introduce an extended ban on this occasion. By all accounts this one could, arbitrarily, last a month.
Subject: Sir Alex Ferguson cuts communication in row over 'cheat' accusation 
Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:02 am
