Football: Referee was under pressure: Ferguson

MANCHESTER: The referee whose post-match report led to Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney being handed a two-match ban for swearing was put under pressure, claims manager Alex Ferguson. Referee Lee Mason took no action at the time but local media reported he later said he would have sent off Rooney had he seen his outburst. “I think Mason was put under pressure. Because if he doesn’t send the player off for swearing, the question will be, has he got double standards?”



Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2011.