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Fergie launches attack on police chief over Rooney comment
Friday 8th April 2011, 12:38PM BST.
Sir Alex Ferguson today hit back at a senior West Midlands Police officer for saying Wayne Rooney would have been arrested had his “ridiculous aggression” on pitch been played out in Wolverhampton.
The Manchester United boss launched an attack on Supt Mark Payne, who had accused Rooney of giving youngsters the idea loutish behaviour would be tolerated.
Supt Payne, second in command at Wolverhampton police, wrote on his blog: “If Rooney had behaved like that in Wolverhampton on Saturday night, I would have expected my officers to lock him up.
“People in positions of influence have an obligation to behave like human beings.”
But Ferguson told media who had gathered for today’s pre-match press conference in Manchester: “Everyone has an opinion today. There is an issue in the modern world of a need to be noticed.
“Have you ever seen Wolverhampton on a Saturday night? Do police ever arrest anyone for swearing on a Saturday night? Dearie me. That is a good one.”
The 25-year-old United and England striker must serve a two-match ban for his four-letter outburst to TV cameras on Saturday.
It prompted Supt Payne to write: “I have seen a thousand Rooneys, and I am sure most police officers will have. The same aggressive stance, the bulging eyes, the foul-mouthed rant, fists clenched, surrounded by his mates, all cheering him on.”
He said Rooney had offered an apology but added: “What he won’t be able to do is alter the impression that he has left in the eyes of the watching youngsters.
“It is OK to insult and abuse, it is OK to react with ridiculous aggression to perceived slights or provocation, it is excusable because it is the heat of the moment.”
Wolverhampton Mayor Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett today defended the city’s police against Sir Alex’s attack saying it was “over the top.”
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Wrong again E AND STAR. Have you seen Fergie’s interview on sky today. He didn’t mention Wolverhampton at all. He said ‘Have you seen Birmingham on a Sat night’.
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Can’t say Rooney should know better because it is only what I would expect from him.I’m only sorry Ferguson hasn’t got the these TV people under control, the same as he usually has with man Utd’s refereeing. Oops!!
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If that’s all Supt Payne got to do with his day write blogs, then maybe he’s one area the Police force can save some money.
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Well said!
Never mind, there’ll be another bandwagon along soon he can hop on to.
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When was the last time Fergie was out in Wolverhampton on a Saturday night? Definately didn’t see him out celebrating after we beat ‘em 2.1. Sounds to me like he has an opinion on something he knows nothing about.
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Little wonder MU players are so ill disciplined with Fergusons attitude – surely a knight of the realm should be able to see the bigger picture and take a moral stance against such loutish behaviour – setting a better example to the impressionable young!
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I don’t know who’s the bigger fool, Supt. Mark Payne or the infallable Fergie? On the one hand you’ve got a trigger happy policeman locking-up people with problems (rather than help)and on the other you’ve got a man with an ego the size of his big red hooter defending this idiot time and time again. I’d love to hear Fergie’s opinion if Rooney still played for Everton. Finally, Fergie has never been to Wolverhampton on a Saturday night so how dare he pass judgement on our sacred city. If the liquor in Cheeky’s was better he’d perhaps come down.
Amen
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Hi 5 Alex!
Personally I think wolverhampton Police should keep their thoughts to themselves.
And that all I can say without having the comment removed.
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as a resident of wolverhampton and a regular city centre user, i would like Supt Payne to publish the figures for how many people have been ‘locked up’ for this type of behaviour on the last 4 saturday nights in the City centre.
I would also like Supt Payne to ‘go on record’ with his reaction to the action of the police officer who physically assaulted the poor gentleman in London, who was knocked down and subsequently died of internal injury. I don’t believe that policeman was ‘locked up’ for his ridiculous aggression to perceived slights or provocation.
to compare swearing to actual physical bodily harm, and then arrive at the conclusion that swearing is something to be ‘locked up’ for, beggars belief.
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When you say about the police officer who ‘physically assaulted’ that guy, he done it because it was his job, as he stated ‘he kept coming and wouldnt move back so i pushed him, it was a light push but he must have lost his balance’ and for the hit he done it as a pre-warning its an officers duty, if the public dont abide by the rules when theres something going on then theyre entitle to use force to make sure a person doesnt cause trouble.
And as to your figures part, how many young kids do you see walking the streets at night in wolverhampton city centre? Very few. When its a professional football setting an example to young potential footballers on live tv where kids would be watching at home or elsewhere then this is a different story. No wonder the youth of today are foul mouthed, arrogant and abusive when we have ‘role models’ like Rooney acting like this
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1000 Rooneys, Imagine that! Lockup your grandmas. And SAF – button it for a change.
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You show me any child watching Rooney swear encouraged them to swear,every child swears these days and if anybody says they dont they are liars . Fining him would have been better and put the money to good use.
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Big Man your are a tottaly incorrect the Kids you know may swear but none of my kids, or neices and nephews do, but they have respect and are disciplined if they do.
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_WELL DONE Supt. Mark Payne keep up the good work we need more of you and less of the millions of rooneys’
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If Rooney is a ROLE MODEL and promoted by parents to be so then they have made a mistake–
People keep telling us he is worth his wages- He is not — the last person I would want my kids to associate with is Rooney– There you are watching the television a great second half with the kids- AND HE COMES OUT WITH THE F word–
Fergie Sir if you do not feel that is wrong then God help us-
Well said Supt- but perhaps you should not be getting involved– Remember your predesesor got rid of our signature tune because it was supposed to promote violence– Come On
Perhaps you can bring it back– Keep the Faith
Wolves 4– Everton 0—
Crazey Dave
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By thw way BIG MAN–YOU ARE WRONG–
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Footballers aren’t role-models and why should they be? We could probably find better influences to hold up to our children than a bunch of overpaid and under educated boys who have no real need or incentive to grow up. Not blaming them for their ability or indeed their good fortune, but they are under no more obligation to provide moral guidance than Charlie Sheen or any number of greedy tax avoiding bankers/venture capitalists. People should look after their own children rather than expect TV, films or football to do it.
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I would prefer Supt Payne kept his opinions to matters which are within his jurisdiction rather than a cheap jibe at Rooney.
Perhaps he would similarly like to make comments about the policing of the G20 and the actions of some of the officers that day? Thought not, because that too is out of his jurisdiction.
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Football at this level is everything that is wrong with society today!
No respect for police, overpaid idiots, and managers like Fergie promoting loutish behaviour and not using his power to stop this kind of outburst.
Police have a lot to put up with and if they arrested everyone who abused them then there would be no room in cells for any one else!
If the F.A. stopped this kind of stuff happening and banned anyone who argued with refs perhaps we would start get a more respectful society. Bring in Rugby kind of rules and allow refs to take action against players and staff.
TK230
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Well commented by Supt Payne. Poor but expected reaction from Ferguson – he used to be a man with sensible comments but these past 2 years he has gone downhill – he rants on pitchside as much as Rooney.
Deserved ban for Rooney – deserved ban from the touchline for Fergie.
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If Wayne Rooney was not a footballer and I agree he is a talented footballer. In my mind Wayne Rooney thinks there is no one else like him (or at least that is the impression he puts across to people). He thinks he is the greatest.
Swearing goes on at every football match amongst the fans if a player does something wrong on the pitch. Wayne Rooney was caught up in the moment having just scored a hat trick thats three goals something he has not done for a long time. To me what Wayne Rooney did wrong was to vent his delight in the way that he did by using the f. word into the camera.
If Wayne Rooney was not a talented footballer and earning lots of money like he does, he would probably be one of the gangs on the streets of today and Superintendant Mark Payne is right he would be arrested.
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Arrested by who? the police are rearly seen when trouble looms, too busy supping tea and swaning about in big fast motors looking for a burn up or chase.
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Rooney should be sacked plain and simple. Such a scumbag
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Well said this Police Officer is correct, if that had been any normal person they would have been arrested, who doe’s Rooney think he is his action was totaly out of order, and should have been condemed by Mr Ferguson, but lets face it he is just has bad and he is the one setting a bad infuelence to his players, with his aggresive attitude. He should have denouced Rooney actions and fined him for his actions, but has I have said Ferguson could not do that as he is just has bad.
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when my wife and i go shopping we constantly here young men and women using the F word why don’t these people realize that the older generation find this very offensive there is a time and place for this certainly not in the high street during the day time
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Fergie is probably better at his job than i am at mine.But i know i am not as misqoted as he is,nor do i comment on stuff i know nothing about.I most certainly do not send out my staff with “respect” badges on their uniforms,even though they all behave like proper human beings whilst in the course of their duties.This club make me absolutely sick of football because they are the most pig-headed,arrogant big-headed bigots in the history of the game.Rooney and Ferdinand are NOT fit to wear their countries’ shirt.
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I get fed up with fergie thinking he can sort things out for his blue eyed boys they are a disgrace to the football world I would be happy to see rooney and ferdinand never playing for england again.was glad terry got his captians band back.something fergie couldn’t fix much to ferdinands annoyance,by the way 17th will do me this year,just so we can have a chance at upsetting a few managers again next season,we’ll move up slowley over time.C’MON YOU WOLVES
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Sorry but everyone seems to be missing the point including Mr Ferguson, everyone nows that most Footballers swear at some time, this also happens in all sports, and regretfully seems to be accebtable in daily life, but what made this worse was in the manor Rooney conducted himself, and swearing directly into the camera for all to see is out of order especially as it was not called for, God nows what he would have done if he had had the goal dissallowed.
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