Ferguson furious at Terry decision

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has expressed anger at the decision to overturn Chelsea captain John Terry’s sending off last weekend.

Terry is now free to face United this weekend after winning an appeal against his straight red card for serious foul play in Chelsea’s Premier League win at Manchester City on Saturday.

Ferguson claims a Manchester United player in the same situation would not have been so fortunate.

The Scot has alleged that the appeal verdict was influenced by Keith Hackett, head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, and not referee Mark Halsey.

Ferguson, quoted in The Times, said: “From what I have heard, Keith Hackett has told the referee to rescind the red card and he wouldn’t do it.

“If it had been a Manchester United player, Keith Hackett wouldn’t have done this.

“If the referee has made a mistake, this is going to happen all the time.”

As of this morning, there had been no response by Hackett to Ferguson’s comments.