Fergie: Diving here to stay
The Manchester United boss has admitted he “had a word” with Ashley Young earlier this week after a couple of incidents over the past fortnight that led to the England winger receiving widespread condemnation.
It was suggested at the time action should be brought against players guilty of diving, with many people feeling it has gone too far.
The sight of Chelsea’s match-winner Didier Drogba writhing around at regular stages of his side’s otherwise superb Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday just added more fuel to the debate.
However, Ferguson believes it is a pointless argument.
Legendary Brazilian Rivaldo was once fined by FIFA for blatantly getting Turkey’s Hakan Usal sent off during the 2002 World Cup by simulating that the ball had hit him in the face when in fact his opponent had kicked it against his leg.
But there have been other woeful examples that have never attracted the world governing body’s attention.
“The only case I can remember of a player being retrospectively punished, was Rivaldo,” said Ferguson.
“I can’t remember another player ever being punished for acting.
“It doesn’t lie with the clubs, it is FIFA and UEFA.
“But there are a load of things we ask them for, including goal-line technology, and nothing’s ever done.
“It doesn’t bother me one way or the other because I don’t think it will happen.”
The problem won’t get better until players start to get penalties and free-kicks despite attempting to remain on their feet.
Ferguson cites the example of Ryan Giggs’ paltry record of gaining just five penalties as proof referees’ reluctance to reward such behaviour.
“Ryan Giggs has been here for 20 years and got five penalties. Do you know why? Because his balance is so good,” said Ferguson.
“Last week, if the player doesn’t bring Ashley down he is going to score. It was a clear goalscoring opportunity.
“He did overdo the attempt to get a penalty but I watched Real Madrid and Bayern Munich the other night and it was absolutely ridiculous, players were diving and rolling about, nothing like what Young has been accused of.
“You see the other night in the Chelsea game, we are in an age where you expect it now.”
Ferguson does believe there is an element of Young being made a scapegoat because of the United connection.
However, as with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past, he has felt it necessary to speak with the winger about his conduct.
“People have reacted because it is Manchester United,” said Ferguson.
“I have had a word with Ashley. He understands where we are coming from. Hopefully it makes a difference.”
Young’s actions have been part of a wider debate about refereeing standards, and whether big clubs are getting the majority of close decisions.
Ferguson has always insisted that is not true, a stance he is sticking to.
“If it is a penalty it is a penalty,” he said.
“We didn’t get one against Wigan during the week but we didn’t scream from the rooftops about it. It happens.
“You get bad decisions and good ones.
“Believe me, it does even itself out. Everyone is the same.”
Ferguson, meanwhile, has tipped Wayne Rooney to smash Bobby Charlton’s United all-time goalscoring record.
Charlton scored 249 goals during his 17-year United career, a figure it was felt would never be matched.
However, Rooney’s double against Aston Villa last weekend took him onto 178, just one behind George Best and Dennis Viollet, joint fourth on the Red Devils’ scoring charts, and only 71 behind club legend Charlton.
“He has time on his side to beat all types of records,” said Ferguson. “There is every chance of beating Bobby’s record.
“He is on track to beat it and I am sure he will do it.”
Rooney is currently on 31 for the season, just three adrift of the 34 he scored two seasons ago which represents his highest total to date.
He will be additionally keen to do well tomorrow against former club Everton, with Ferguson believing it will provide Rooney with “the edge” that he needs to perform at his best.
“We have had a clutch of players who scored an incredible amount of goals,” said Ferguson.
“I always thought of Wayne as a player who scored goals in clutches. Now they are evening themselves out and his scoring record is terrific. What I have always said about him is that he plays on the edge.
“He likes the edge to a big game and he has a big game on Sunday.”
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