Sir Alex BANNED!! Too Harsh? NO!

So Manchester United's stalwart leader and manger Sir Alex Ferguson has received a 5 match ban from the English FA.  The ban was due in part to his post match comments after the recent Man U defeat at Stamford Bridge.  He made the following comment to the media about referee Martin Atkinson, "You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway - and we didn't get that."  The FA does not look kindly on disparaging remarks about their refs.  He was leveled with a £30,000 fine and a 3 match touchline ban.  They also threw on a 2 match ban for a similar incident in 2009.  So those are the particulars and now the opinion.

Overall, the ban was way too harsh....at first look.  He is not the first and will not be the last coach/player to make anti-ref comments after a match.  Arsene Wenger and every other manager come to mind.  Now while he is not the only one guilty, he is by far the worst.  He spends more time in the linesman's ear than Mike "The Situation" spends in front of a mirror.  A constant complainer and master manipulator, Sir Alex has routinely swayed ref decisions to favor his club.  Just watch about 3 Man U games in a row and you'll under stand.  The best American comparison would be Phil Jackson.  Everyone hates the fact that the Lakers "get calls."  The reason is because Phil won't stop talking until they do.  So the refs oblige.  The same goes for Ferguson.  He does whatever he can to give his team an advantage, however unfair.

This ban feels more like a culmination ban.  The FA has a yellow card rule for players.  If a player accumulates 5 yellow cards in a season, he is given a 1 match ban.  So when you take Sir Alex's various comments about officiating over that last few years I'm sure you could come up with 25 remarks or actions that could be considered unflattering and yellow cardable.  I look at it like this.  When you are in your 20's you might go out and party and have a great time.  You may have even had a few drinks and driven home.  You probably were not caught.  You may have done this a few times and gotten away with it.  Then one day a few years later, you go out to dinner and actually only have to 2 beers, get pulled over, and get busted.  You may have been just over the limit,  but this is karma.  Maybe you did not deserve to get busted that one time, but I'm sure you can think of many times when you did deserve it.  Well Sir Alex.......You deserve it.  If not for this particular incident them for countless outhers.  Enjoy the stands and when you get back on the pitch, just keep your mouth shut and coach.