Referees get things wrong, but not deliberately. In the end, the spirit of any game rests in the hands of those who play it and today's players have only themselves to blame for jeopardising their massive earnings by risking a loss of public trust. How much better, in ours above all sporting lands, would be profit with honour. As a manager big enough to concede that his Manchester United team should have lost 6-1 to Panathinaikos last week, Sir Alex Ferguson has enough common sense not to have let himself be associated with the sinister campaign for a return to terraces. The local council's over-reactive threat to shut part of Old Trafford if the fans keep standing in their seats is no excuse for boarding the electioneering bandwagon being pushed so brazenly by Sports Minister Kate Hoey.
Terraces kill the innocent.
Terraces are fertile ground for every dreg in society from the drunken yob to the militant activist. As a socialist born and bred, Sir Alex has his roots in his football constituency and is thus susceptible to the siren voices therein. Better he should listen to Hoey's ministerial superior, Chris Smith, who speaks for the Government's rejection of her irresponsible attempt at vote-catching. Click here for Terms of Use and Privacy Policy applicable to this site.