Ferguson facing sanction
Source: Agencies |
August 24, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson could be fined by the Premier League after continuing his boycott of the BBC in contravention of a new rule.
Ferguson has refused to speak to Britain's publicly funded broadcaster for six years after it aired an investigation into the business dealings of his son Jason, then working as a football agent. Jason has never been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
The league tightened its rules this season to insist managers speak to broadcast rights-holders, but Ferguson snubbed the BBC again on Sunday.
"The Premier League is disappointed that the BBC and Manchester United have, as yet, been unable to resolve the issue of Sir Alex Ferguson providing post-match interviews," the league said in a statement. "We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation and offer any help deemed necessary by either party to try and help remedy the situation.
"However, this is a breach of Premier League rules and the board will consider the appropriate course of action at their next meeting scheduled for late September."
The BBC shows highlights of matches on its popular Match of the Day program, while BBC Radio Five Live airs live commentaries.
"It's a shame - we would like him to speak to us because we respect him and his teams, and always have done," BBC presenter Gary Lineker wrote in his column. "It's not us that suffer from not hearing from Sir Alex Ferguson. It makes no difference to the program because it's action-led. But it does make a difference to the Manchester United fans. They are the ones missing out."
The 68-year-old Ferguson also refuses to speak to members of the written media.
Ferguson has refused to speak to Britain's publicly funded broadcaster for six years after it aired an investigation into the business dealings of his son Jason, then working as a football agent. Jason has never been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
The league tightened its rules this season to insist managers speak to broadcast rights-holders, but Ferguson snubbed the BBC again on Sunday.
"The Premier League is disappointed that the BBC and Manchester United have, as yet, been unable to resolve the issue of Sir Alex Ferguson providing post-match interviews," the league said in a statement. "We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation and offer any help deemed necessary by either party to try and help remedy the situation.
"However, this is a breach of Premier League rules and the board will consider the appropriate course of action at their next meeting scheduled for late September."
The BBC shows highlights of matches on its popular Match of the Day program, while BBC Radio Five Live airs live commentaries.
"It's a shame - we would like him to speak to us because we respect him and his teams, and always have done," BBC presenter Gary Lineker wrote in his column. "It's not us that suffer from not hearing from Sir Alex Ferguson. It makes no difference to the program because it's action-led. But it does make a difference to the Manchester United fans. They are the ones missing out."
The 68-year-old Ferguson also refuses to speak to members of the written media.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
