Sir Alex Ferguson may be getting the rap from the Premier League for continuing an on-going six year feud with the BBC. The Premier League isn't particularly interested in the feud itself but consequences of it: Ferguson apparently vowed never to speak to the BBC again in 2004 and hasn't granted it a single interview since!
The feud apparently stems from a report by the BBC in 2004 on Ferguson's son, Jason, who was a football agent. Needless to say, the piece wasn't too flattering (at least in the eyes of the Ferguson family) and a feud was born. Here's what Fergie had to say about the BBC in 2007 as reported by the Independent:
"They did a story about my son that was whole lot of nonsense. It all made-up stuff and 'brown paper bags' and all that kind of carry-on. It was a horrible attack on my son's honour and he should never have been accused of that.
"But it is such a huge organisation that they will never apologise. They don't even care if you sue them or whatever, because they are so huge and have insurance. They carry on regardless and it's breathtaking."
The Premier League is now looking at stepping in to resolve the matter. For one, the BBC can't be too happy that it's been unable to conduct a single interview with the legendary Scot. This, of course, doesn't bode too well for the BBC considering the fact that there are fewer stories bigger than Man Utd.
As for the Premier League? I guess they aren't too happy that the most successful manager in Premier League history doesn't give post-match interviews to the biggest news organisation in Britain.
Weekend Round-up
It's no secret that Michel Platini's had the Premier League in his crosshairs and its downfall on top of priorities ever since his appointment as UEFA President. England's abysmal showing in the World Cup certainly lent some credibility to Platini's argument that the Premier League's transfer and ownership policies are detrimental to the development of its national team. In fact, Platini, like many of his other peers, have been pointing out the Bundesliga's success in cultivating a new generation of stars for Germany. Even if you don't like Platini you've got to agree with some of his logic here.
But who cares about the national team when its goals galore every weekend?! Last weekend, three matches produced 18 goals! That's the entire sum of goals scored in the Bundesliga in one weekend (two weekends if you compare it to the Serie A).
Kicking things of was Arsenal who gave Premiership newbies, Blackpool, a real welcoming party to the Premier League. Blackpool, which made the best debut in the league possible by thrashing Wigan 4-0 last weekend, may well be wondering if life in the Premier League is going to suck big time.
Speaking of Wigan, things didn't get any better from Roberto Martinez' men. Still smarting from their shock defeat to Blackpool last weekend, Wigan put on some strong displays to contain Chelsea to just one goal in the first half of their encounter only to let in five more in the second half.
And Chelsea? Well, what can you say about the Blues but agree with Carlo Ancelotti that his side has been playing some "Playstation" football based on the scoreline of their first two games! I couldn't have come up with a better analogy.
Then came the shocker of the week. Aston Villa, who were 4-0 victors against West Ham last week, showed just how badly the club needs a new manager in place after getting trounced 6-0 by the newly promoted Newcastle United (who lost 3-0 in their opening match against Man Utd).
Yes, it does now appear that Martin O'Neill's absence is being sorely felt and the club is in deep danger of reversing all the progress it has made over the past few years if it doesn't get its house in order soon enough. Losing 6-0 to a Chelsea or an Arsenal is painful but at least understandable but to Newcastle?? Isn't this the same club that spent all of last season in the Championship?
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