Editing Alex Ferguson (section)

==Controversies==

===Gordon Strachan===
[[Gordon Strachan]] was a key player for Ferguson at Aberdeen, but their relationship broke down when Strachan signed an agreement with German club [[1. FC Köln|FC Köln]] without telling Ferguson.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Ferguson said that he believed although "there was a cunning streak in Strachan, I had never imagined that he could pull such a stroke on me".<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Strachan did not sign for Köln, but instead moved to Manchester United in the summer of 1984.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Strachan liked the move because he felt that Ron Atkinson treated him as an adult, unlike Ferguson.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/5228964.stm |title=Strachan keen to end Fergie rift |work=BBC Sport |date=30 July 2006 |access-date=18 October 2015}}</ref> Strachan was still with the club when Ferguson was appointed manager in November 1986.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Ferguson thought that Strachan did not play for United with the same confidence he had in Scotland and subsequently sold him to Leeds United in 1989.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Strachan enjoyed significant success with Leeds as a veteran player, helping them win the [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92]] English league championship in a title race with Ferguson's United.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/>

Their relationship continued to be frosty as Strachan moved into management himself.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> In his 1999 autobiography, Ferguson stated that Strachan "could not be trusted an inch – I would not want to expose my back to him in a hurry".<ref name="Fergie v Strachan">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5335578.stm|title=Fergie v Strachan|work=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2006|access-date=18 October 2015|first=Simon|last=Austin}}</ref> Strachan's reaction to the attack, in his own autobiography, ''My Life in Football'', was one of being "surprised and disappointed", although he suspected that Ferguson had helped to relegate Strachan's [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] in 2001 by fielding a weakened Manchester United team in a match against Derby County.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> By 2006 they appeared to have "declared something of a truce",<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> ahead of Champions League matches between United and Strachan's Celtic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/2389068/strachan-no-fergie-feud |title=Strachan: No Fergie feud |first=Simon |last=Fudge |access-date=18 October 2015 |work=Sky Sports |publisher=BSkyB}}</ref>

===David Beckham===
In February 2003, Ferguson was involved in a dressing room argument with Manchester United player [[David Beckham]].<ref name="factfilemmedia" /> Ferguson allegedly kicked a football boot in frustration, which hit Beckham in the face and caused a minor injury.<ref name = "boot">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/sep/01/newsstory.sport3 |title=Beckham went for boss in boot brawl |work=The Guardian |first=Dominic |last=Fifield |date=1 September 2003 |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref> Ferguson apologised to Beckham, who was transferred to [[Real Madrid]] later that year.<ref name = "boot"/>

===Champions League draw fixing===
On 5 April 2003, Ferguson claimed that the Champions League draw was fixed in favour of Spanish and Italian teams.<ref name="factfilemmedia">{{cite news |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227505_sir_alex_ferguson_factfile |title=Sir Alex Ferguson factfile |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=6 November 2006 |access-date=14 December 2009 |archive-date=18 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018185859/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227505_sir_alex_ferguson_factfile |url-status=dead }}</ref> UEFA charged Ferguson for bringing the game into disrepute with his comments.<ref name = "uefa fine"/> Ferguson apologised for his remarks and wrote a letter to UEFA in explanation, but he was fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£4,600) by the governing body.<ref name = "uefa fine">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2989659.stm |title=Ferguson fined over outburst |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=1 May 2003 |access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>

===Rock of Gibraltar===
In 2003, Ferguson launched legal action against the then major Manchester United shareholder [[John Magnier]] over stud rights for race horse [[Rock of Gibraltar (horse)|Rock of Gibraltar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingandsports.com.au/breeding/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=30626|title=Sir Alex Ferguson takes His case to Court|publisher=Racing and Sports|date=20 November 2003|access-date=14 December 2009|archive-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823073417/http://www.racingandsports.com.au/breeding/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=30626|url-status=dead}}</ref> Magnier counter-sued Ferguson<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/magniers-legal-action-damages-hopes-of-a-deal-568624.html|title=Magnier's legal action damages hopes of a deal|work=The Independent|location=UK|date=3 February 2004|access-date=14 December 2009|first=Nick|last=Harris| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100122120947/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/magniers-legal-action-damages-hopes-of-a-deal-568624.html| archive-date= 22 January 2010 | url-status= dead}}</ref> by filing a "Motion to Comply" requiring Ferguson to substantiate his claim for half of Rock of Gibraltar's stud fees. The legal issues were further compounded by Magnier being a significant shareholder in the football club managed by Ferguson at the time.<ref name = "rock settled">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2374308/Ferguson-agrees-2.5m-Rock-deal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2374308/Ferguson-agrees-2.5m-Rock-deal.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ferguson agrees £2.5m Rock deal |first=Sam |last=Wallace |date=6 March 2004 |access-date=1 March 2019 |work=The Daily Telegraph }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Magnier requested that "99 Questions" be answered over Ferguson's transfer dealings, including those of Jaap Stam, Juan Sebastián Verón, Tim Howard, [[David Bellion]], Cristiano Ronaldo and Kléberson.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/01/newsstory.sport5|title=United won't answer the 99 questions|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=1 February 2004|access-date=14 December 2009|first=Denis|last=Campbell| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100123011107/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2004/feb/01/newsstory.sport5| archive-date= 23 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> The case was eventually settled out of Court.<ref name = "rock settled"/>

===BBC===
Ferguson refused to give interviews to the [[BBC]] after a documentary called ''Fergie and Son'' was shown on [[BBC Three]] on 27 May 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC THREE investigation raises new questions for Manchester United |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/05_may/25/fergie_son.shtml |publisher=BBC Press office |date=25 May 2004 |access-date=8 December 2013}}</ref> According to an article in ''[[The Independent]]'', the documentary had "portrayed his agent son, Jason, as somebody who exploited his father's influence and position to his own ends in the transfer market". The same newspaper article made it clear that Jason was never found guilty of any wrongdoing, and it quoted Alex Ferguson as saying: {{blockquote|They [the BBC] did a story about my son that was whole lot of nonsense. It all {{sic}} made-up stuff and 'brown paper bags' and all that kind of carry-on. It was a horrible attack on my son's honour and he should never have been accused of that.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Nick|title=Ferguson will never talk to The BBC again |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ferguson-will-never-talk-to-the-bbc-again-401487.html |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=6 September 2007 |access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>}} Subsequent interviews on BBC programmes such as ''[[Match of the Day]]'' were done by his assistants, latterly [[Mike Phelan]].<ref name="BBC resolution"/>

Under new Premier League rules intended for the 2010–11 season, Ferguson was required to end his BBC boycott.<ref>{{cite news |first=Duncan |last=White |title=Sir Alex Ferguson will be forced to speak to the BBC under new Premier League rules |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6570541/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-will-be-forced-to-speak-to-the-BBC-under-new-Premier-League-rules.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=14 November 2009 |access-date=14 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118012613/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6570541/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-will-be-forced-to-speak-to-the-BBC-under-new-Premier-League-rules.html |archive-date=18 November 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, he refused to end his boycott and Manchester United said they would pay the resulting fines.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Laughlin |title=BBC to give up Ferguson boycott battle|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a277262/bbc-to-give-up-ferguson-boycott-battle.html |work=Digital Spy |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=12 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611154903/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a277262/bbc-to-give-up-ferguson-boycott-battle.html |archive-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> No fines were ever issued, as the BBC hoped to resolve the dispute.<ref name="BBC resolution">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/aug/25/alex-ferguson-ends-bbc-boycott |title=Alex Ferguson ends BBC boycott after personal visit from Mark Thompson |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |work=The Guardian |date=25 August 2011 |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref> On 25 August 2011, Ferguson met with BBC director general [[Mark Thompson (television executive)|Mark Thompson]] and BBC North director [[Peter Salmon (producer)|Peter Salmon]], after which Ferguson agreed to end his seven-year boycott.<ref name="BBC resolution"/>

===Referees===
[[File:Mark Clattenburg and Sir Alex Ferguson.png|thumb|right|Ferguson with [[Mark Clattenburg]] in 2016]]
Ferguson has received numerous punishments for abusing and publicly criticising match officials when he has perceived them to be at fault:
* 20 October 2003 – Two-match touchline ban and fined £10,000 after using abusive and/or insulting words towards fourth official [[Jeff Winter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227/227505_sir_alex_ferguson_factfile.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903172921/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227/227505_sir_alex_ferguson_factfile.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2012 |title=Sir Alex Ferguson Factfile |work=Manchester Evening News |date=6 November 2006 |access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>
* 14 December 2007 – Two-match touchline ban and fined £5,000 after using abusive and/or insulting words towards [[Mark Clattenburg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7113777.stm|title=Ferguson banned for two matches|publisher=BBC|date=14 December 2007|access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>
* 18 November 2008 – Two-match touchline ban and fined £10,000 after confronting [[Mike Dean (referee)|Mike Dean]] after a game.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5183446.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160524/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5183446.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Sir Alex Ferguson banned and fined £10,000|work=The Times|location=UK|date=19 November 2008|access-date=14 December 2009|first=James|last=Ducker}}</ref>
* 12 November 2009 – Four-match touchline ban (two suspended) and fined £20,000 for comments made about the fitness of [[Alan Wiley]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/12/sir-alex-ferguson-banned|title=Sir Alex Ferguson banned for two games and fined after Alan Wiley jibe |work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=12 November 2009|access-date=14 December 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091115093410/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/12/sir-alex-ferguson-banned |archive-date=15 November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* 16 March 2011 – Five-match touchline ban (three plus the two suspended for the above offence) and fined £30,000 for comments made questioning the performance and fairness of [[Martin Atkinson]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/2011/Ferguson-suspended|title=Ferguson suspended and fined|publisher=The Football Association|date=16 March 2011|access-date=16 March 2011|location=London}}</ref>

===="Fergie Time"====
It has also been suggested that Ferguson's intimidation of referees resulted in so-called "Fergie Time": that is, unusually generous [[Association football#Duration and tie-breaking methods|injury time]] being added in matches where Manchester United were behind. The phrase is at least as old as 1998,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-fergie3/135173835/ |title=Air raid puts United to flight|work=Guardian|location=UK|date=9 March 1998|access-date=11 December 2023|first=Jeremy|last=Alexander}}</ref> but the concept first appeared on 10 April 1993 when [[Steve Bruce]] scored a 97th-minute goal (seventh minute of injury time added on by the referee) against [[Sheffield Wednesday]] to win the game for United: they went top of the league with this win and remained there until the season ended.<ref name="Fergie Time"/> The term got wider coverage when United came from behind to win the [[1999 UEFA Champions League final]] with two goals in injury time.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo-fergie1/135173806/ Time to reflect on Fergie glory], Liverpool Echo, 5 June 1999</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-fergie-time/135173789/ Blue's timely gratitude], Manchester Evening News, 12 June 1999</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-fergie2/135173812/ Good, but not that Good !], Birmingham Post, 29 May, 1999</ref>

The concept cropped up in the media (and by opponents) whenever games seemed to be having more injury time than expected.<ref name="Fergie Time"/> A statistical analysis by ''[[The Times]]'' suggests that this concept might be valid, though the article points out that other footballing criteria may explain the correlation between extra added time and United being behind.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Sadie |title=It's a fact! Fergie time does exist in the Premier League |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/fink_tank/article6887985.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604221013/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/fink_tank/article6887985.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |work=The Times |location=UK |date=24 October 2009 |access-date=21 February 2010}}</ref> Analysis by [[Opta Sports]] of Premier League matches played between 2010 and 2012 found on average that 79 seconds more time was played in matches where Manchester United were losing.<ref name="fergie time"/> This was a greater figure than for other top clubs, although most of these clubs seem to benefit from a "Fergie Time" effect, particularly in their home matches.<ref name="fergie time">{{cite news |first=Charlotte |last=Pritchard |title=Fergie time: Does it really exist? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20464371 |work=BBC News |date=23 November 2012 |access-date=23 November 2012}}</ref>