Fergie: Terry decision sets precedent
Alex Ferguson feels the FA have ’opened a gate’ by rescinding John Terry’s red card at Manchester City last week.
The Manchester United manager’s initial reaction when he discovered Terry would be free to face his side at Stamford Bridge on Sunday was to scold referees’ chief Keith Hackett for his perceived involvement.
Ferguson is still not entirely happy about the situation, especially as his own combative centre-half Nemanja Vidic misses out this weekend following his dismissal at Liverpool, forcing him into a major decision about who plays alongside Rio Ferdinand.
The Scot accepts by the actual definition of a professional foul, Terry should not have walked.
However, in over-ruling referee Mark Halsey, Ferguson feels the FA are setting a dangerous precedent.
“Chelsea have used the FA panel well,” reflected Ferguson.
“There was a cynicism about Terry’s challenge but by the letter of the law it was not a goalscoring opportunity.
“That is how the FA have decided it and it is maybe good to have an FA panel people can go to.
“But it certainly opens the gate to that kind of thing now.”
