Tunnel Vision

Picture the scene. It’s a local derby at the ground of your bitter rivals. Three points are vital if you are to maintain your challenge to the top side in the league and for thousands of loyal fans, there are essential bragging rights to consider. A draw is useless and losing is unthinkable.

You get more and more frustrated by the performance of the referee. Though very experienced he is not having a good game and your team is bearing the brunt of it. As half time approaches, one of your star players is fouled out near the touchline. The opposing player rakes his studs down his shin. A clear over the top challenge yet the referee does not even give a foul. Your player is incensed and rushes over to the official, who promptly books him for dissent and you know instinctively that this is a player who has successfully controlled his emotions for several weeks but is now at boiling point.

The half-time whistle is blown and you can’t wait to get at the referee. By this time you are almost beyond rage and when you confront him in the tunnel any thought of diplomacy is forgotten. Through a volley of expletives, you tell him exactly what you think of him – then you disappear into the away dressing room to give your team talk.

Deep down, you know that whatever the circumstances, you can’t talk to a referee like that and get away with it.

But you can, apparently, if your name is Sir Alex Ferguson. To the astonishment of many, including presumably the manager of Manchester United, Steve Bennett made no report of the incident and no further action was taken.