Fergie blows his top
Sir Alex Ferguson is facing his first English touchline ban after being sent off at Newcastle for foul and abusive language. Fergie´s four-letter tirade came after referee Uriah Rennie failed to send off Toon defender Andy O´Brien for a clear professional foul on Ryan Giggs. The Old Trafford boss, whose side came from behind to win 2-1, is now facing an FA hearing. He raged: " It was a blatant decision and you expect them to be given. I showed my anger to the fourth official - that was that and I was off."
Brian McNally, Sunday Mirror
X-rated Fergie
Sir Alex Ferguson is facing a lengthy touchline ban after being sent off for a foul-mouthed tirade of abuse against referee Uriah Rennie. Football Association chiefs will launch an inquiry after the Manchester United boss was dismissed for screaming " f***ing cheat" and " f***ing b******" following Rennie´s failure to punish a blatant foul on Ryan Giggs. The first-half outburst during United´s 2-1 Premiership win at Newcastle was heard by fourth official Jeff Winter, who immediately notified Rennie. The referee dismissed Fergie from the dug-out for foul and abusive language but the Old Trafford boss continued his verbal assault as he marched down the tunnel. He turned to Winter and appeared to shout " f***ing joke, f***ing joke... f***ing joke." Fergie´s f-word tantrum was clearly seen by millions of people watching the game live on television.
Ray Ryan, News of the World
Knight out of order
The Queen will not be amused that one of her Knights of the Realm is in hot water with the football authorities. But even Her Maj shouldn´t be surprised that Sir Alex Ferguson was sent off for foul and abusive language. The man with the shortest temper in soccer has a history of bust-ups. OUCH! On February 15th this year he cut David Beckham´s eyebrow by kicking a stray boot across the dressing room. OUCH! Two months later Fergie accused UEFA of rigging the Champions League quarter-final draw. OUCH! Then he fired a four-letter tirade at journalists before throwing them out after they dared to ask questions about Juan Veron´s future.
Sports Reporter, News of the World
Match Reports: Newcastle United 1 Manchester United 2
A lesson in class: Robson´s Toon not up to scratch
Bobby Robson knows Newcastle have a huge gap they must close if they are to overtake Manchester United as the kings of English football. The Toon boss watched as his side were given a master class from the Premiership champions in a stunning second-half. And Robson said: " This was a big defeat for us - and one we must learn from." How Robson must have wished United skipper Roy Keane had been sent off in this game instead of Old Trafford chief Alex Ferguson. Keane was an inspiration in everything he did as he destroyed Newcastle with a stunning display. Coupled with that, the finishing prowess of Ruud van Nistelrooy was also the deciding factor between the sides as he scored for the 10th game in a row, equalling John Aldridge´s record.
Ray Ryan, News of the World
Keane´s the king of cool
The manager sat with his feet on Sir Bobby Robson´s desk but the gaffer was still out there. In a test for controlled aggression, Fergie failed. Roy Keane passed. If ever there was a moment when Keane officially presented his case to succeed Sir Alex, this was it. From the moment prior to the first whistle when he clasped the hand of Eric Djemba-Djemba - shaking like a nervous flier on his full debut - to the whistle-stop tour of the entire team at the finale, Keane was inspirational.
Andy Dunn, The People
Other News Stories
Wes back for Fergie
Wes Brown is on course to save Manchester United £10million by making an amazing recovery from the knee injury that was expected to sideline him until the New Year. The Sunday Mirror understands the England defender could be back in action inside six weeks after he ruptured knee ligaments in United´s last game of the season at Everton. United have been searching for defensive reinforcements all summer with Brown out of action, Laurent Blanc retired and David May joining Burnley. But Brown has stunned Old Trafford´s medical staff with the speed of his recovery.
Simon Mullock, Sunday Mirror
Becks sale may blow Adu deal
Manchester United could have blown their bid to bring American wonderkid Freddy Adu to Old Trafford - by selling David Beckham. As exclusively revealed by Sunday Mirror Sport last week, United have launched a massive charm offensive to put themselves into pole position to secure the signature of the 14-year-old. But Adu, currently starring for the United States under-17s team at the World Championships in Finland, has made the shock admission that he would prefer Madrid to Manchester. And it is the Beckham factor that is tempting him towards the Bernabeu ahead of Old Trafford. Adu said: " My favourite teams in Europe have always been Manchester United and Real Madrid. But since David Beckham moved to Spain it is Madrid who would please me most."
Simon Mullock, Sunday Mirror
No Butts! Nicky is the key piece in Sven´s jigsaw
For so long he was the anonymous one in Manchester United´s England platoon. Beckham was the fashion icon, Scholes the flashing blade in the penalty box, Ferdinand the £29million graceful defender. It was Nicky who? But now Nicky Butt has become absolutely vital to England´s Euro 2004 qualifying plans. Butt is the only player in the squad who is comfortable sitting in the anchor role to protect a back four which has looked progressively vulnerable over the last year. He is also highly capable of initiating short, sharp passing movements through midfield by which England maintain possession and shape.
Jonathan Pearce, Sunday Mirror
Man U kid is all Ron his own
Good news, girls - new teenage soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo has declared: " I´m free and single." The Portuguese star, who has inherited David Beckham´s No 7 shirt at Manchester United, has been linked with stunning Brazilian model Jordana. But £12million Ronaldo, 18 - who came on as substitute yesterday in United´s 2-1 win at Newcastle United - said: " The only women in my life are my mother and my sister. They are coming over to Manchester to help me settle in."
Fiona May, The People
Samba sexpot Jordana reveals token that keeps randy Ronaldo onside
The Latino lover of sex-starved football star Cristiano Ronaldo has given him a special chastity bracelet. And she´s told him to rub it whenever he´s feeling randy. Babe Jordana Jardel bought his ´n´ hers bracelets to share with the footie golden boy shortly before he jetted to Britain to clinch his multi-million pound dream move to Manchester United. She said: " When we are lonely we rub the bracelets and it reminds each other of our love." Like Jordana, Ronaldo has worn his bracelet constantly since leaving Portugal for Manchester. He has risked the wrath of both the Football Association and his boss Alex Ferguson - by flouting a ban on wearing jewellery on the pitch during games - and wore it when he came on as a substitute in the win against Newcastle yesterday.
Michael Booker, Daily Star Sunday
Weng: Ron not worth £12.4m
Arsene Wenger believes Sir Alex Ferguson paid over the odds in coughing up £12.4m for teen star Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, 18, set Old Trafford alight when he made his first appearance in a United shirt against Bolton last weekend. However, Arsenal boss Wenger believes that Sporting Lisbon did a great bit of business by raking in £12million for such an inexperienced winger. " I like Ronaldo very much. But I am surprised by the amount of money that was paid," Wenger said.
Sports Reporter, Daily Star Sunday
How Sir Alex discovered he was missing a fortune
It started out as a routine telephone conversation between the two most powerful men at Manchester United. But it ended with Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in Old Trafford history, and John Magnier, United´s principal shareholder, pitched into a multi-million pound dispute that could yet see them embroiled in a highly public courtroom battle. When Ferguson called Magnier, the Irishman who rules the phenomenally powerful Coolmore Stud in Ireland, it was as the joint owner with Magnier´s wife, Sue, of Rock of Gibraltar. The Rock was expected to cover around 250 mares in his first year in Ireland and Australia at upwards of £60,000 a time. Ferguson believed he would share in the tens of millions of pounds that would accrue over the years. Sources close to Ferguson claim that during the course of the conversation, Magnier disclosed that last January Coolmore had registered ownership of the stallion with Weatherbys Ireland, the stud book authority, as the Rock of Gibraltar syndicate. Suddenly the name of Sir Alex Ferguson no longer appeared beside the horse that had transformed his life.
Jonathan Powell, The Mail on Sunday
Ferguson: Watch the Ince flak fly
Sir Alex Ferguson expects former Manchester United star Paul Ince to get a hostile Old Trafford reception on Wednesday night - the legacy of once playing for bitter rivals Liverpool. Both Ince and Denis Irwin - in his farewell season as a player - will be back in town with Wolves. United boss Ferguson admitted last night: " Paul is never going to get the same sort of adoring reception as Denis, simply because he went across and played for Liverpool."
John Richardson, Sunday Express
Spaniards to rescue Ricardo?
Manchester United keeper Ricardo is set to quit Old Trafford for Atletico Madrid just a year after arriving in a £1.5million transfer. Ricardo, who played only 45 minutes in the Premiership last season, has slipped to fourth in the pecking order at United following the arrival of American keeper Tim Howard.
Mike Carey, Sunday Express
Ricardo to keep Bart on bench
Manchester United let Spanish keeper Ricardo go home yesterday - and condemned Fabien Barthez to a season of torture in the shadows. Ricardo has been told he can sign for La Liga outfit Racing Santander on loan for a year after he flopped at Old Trafford. The bad news for Barthez is that he will now have to stay and face life in the reserves.
Alan Nixon, The People
Neighbours from hell
Sir Alex Ferguson couldn´t wait to see the back of Martin Edwards… now it seems he wants to live near him. The United boss and his missus, Cathy, have been looking at villas in the same area as Edwards´ millionaire pad in Majorca.
Neil Ashton, The People
Fergie flannel
Djemba-Djemba fell for some Fergie flannel when he signed for United. The midfielder claims the Old Trafford boss told him: " The club never makes a mistake in the transfer market." Ricardo, Taibi, Barthez, Bosnich, May, Poborsky, Cruyff, Prunier, Forlan…
Neil Ashton, The People
