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Sir Alex Ferguson: The Imperfect Role Model Getting Off The Hook?

Adithya Manjunath |
December 31, 2012 | 7:45 a.m. PST

Staff Writer

Ferguson has allowed his name and resume to receive unfair special treatment. (Andrea Sartorati/Creative Commons)
Ferguson has allowed his name and resume to receive unfair special treatment. (Andrea Sartorati/Creative Commons)
More often than not, people who are considered true heroes and icons across the world for their impact on scores of people of different walks of life have always had a concealed, mysterious flip-side to their lives; a side that the aware do their utmost to conceal; a side that the aware would prefer the general public were ignorant to, for their own good.

Take Mahatma Gandhi. Given the spectacular title of the "father of the nation" for his influence on the independence struggle in India, not many people are aware of a number of eccentric principles on the subject of his personal life, some of which were explored by Jad Adams in her book Gandhi: Naked Ambition. While many have argued that this provides just one opinion or approach to Gandhi's life - what is history but a recollection of incidents influenced by the author's opinion or approach?

In applying this to the world of professional soccer, one would be hard-pressed to find someone who could make a cohesive argument that went along the lines of Sir Alex Ferguson not being a true hero in English soccer. If not for taking Manchester United from being just another successful club to being the biggest in England and possibly the world, for simply his achievements at the highest level. Twelve Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two UEFA Champions League victories. He's won it all and, at 71, shows no signs of slowing down, 26 years since he took over at Old Trafford from Ron Atkinson.

But it would be silly to say that his hands are absolutely clean and that he is the quintessential manager, the perfect idol for budding learners, as many people believe and wholeheartedly surmise. His flip-side may not be as concealed as other heroes in other walks of life, but it is just as real. And this (intermittent) ugly manifestation reared its head briefly during United's home fixture against Newcastle United last week, as Ferguson delayed kickoff following half-time by bizarrely walking on the pitch and yelled his voice hoarse at Mike Dean (and his assistants) before finally heading back to the dug-out.

Make no mistake -- managers should have every right to make themselves and their opinions heard, especially in the case of a contentious decision, as it were in the case of Jonny Evans' own goal. But as the proverb goes, there is a time and place for everything, and if his actions on the pitch were not uncalled for, his post-match comments, where he attacked Alan Pardew and subsequently referred to Newcastle United as "a wee club in the North East," most definitely were.

The crux of the issue involving Ferguson's behavior, however, is the lack of proper reprehension on the part of the FA. Not only did Dean not file a complaint of any sort regarding the conduct of the gaffer during the game, but the body language of Dean along with his counterparts during Ferguson's outburst said all there was that had to be said. Referees, officials and the media alike are all terrified. They are afraid of a man who, at the end of the day, is just another manager.

This is obviously not based off one isolated incident. Take the case of Martin Atkinson, who has been heavily criticized in the past by Ferguson to the point where he once said that he "feared the worst" when he saw that Atkinson had been appointed to a fixture between Manchester United and Chelsea. Take the case of Sky Sports News being banned from covering press conferences because it broadcasted footage of a contentious incident several times. Take the case of Alan Wiley, another referee heavily criticized by Ferguson as "not fit in enough," who, eventually (according to some), "agreed" to retire less than a year after Ferguson's scathing attack. Take the similar case of Keith Hackett, another referee who conspicuously retired a year after being on the receiving end of criticism on the part of Ferguson.

But these incidents, amongst others, have all contributed to the conclusion that his approach to both the media and the referees alike might not be the most ethical or righteous, especially for someone who is as influential as he is in this, as the Telegraph's Henry Winter put it, "wonderful, maddening game he has done so much for." Dean's actions (or lack thereof) has possibly set a dangerous precedent, giving the impression that managers have the power to confront officials when and as they please without facing any appropriate consequences in terms of reprehension.

Ferguson might be regarded as one of the greatest managers there will ever be, but it would be daft to assume that he is the perfect manager or the perfect role model for that job coveted by so many across the world. Like any other hero, he has his imperfections; but in his case, the sheer power and influence that comes with being the man behind the most successful club in England seems to imply that he can get away with murder -- and that is an incredible risky benchmark to set.

 

Reach Staff Writer Adithya Manjunath by email, or follow him on Twitter.

 



 

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