Ferguson: laughs in the face of mild rebuke

Amidst all this Thierry Henry talk, let’s not forget the other man ruining football with his whinging, complaining, and apparent invincibility in the face of countless run-ins with referees: yep, that guy who sits in the comfy chairs on the Old Trafford sidelines. Our gum-chewing friend, Sir Alex Ferguson.

It appears some weird footnote to the 2-match ban he was given (you know, besides the 2-game suspended ban) is that it can only begin 14 days after it was handed down. Therefore, he’ll be smug as a bug on a rug at OT on Saturday for a potentially tricky encounter with Everton, and that soft ban will kick in for the trip to Fratton Park, and then a Carling Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur. Oh no, whatever will United do without their charismatic leader!?!

The entire thing is ridiculous; any perceived justice in the ban has now melted like the first-driven snow, and Fergie’s side lose very little of his mentoring. I’m sure he’ll still make the trip to Portsmouth, but hole up in their rickety press box to watch a rudimentary 2-0 away win.

The FA: making FIFA appear competent since the late-1800s.