Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez has launched an astonishing attack on Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Spaniard viciously went for his Manchester United counterpart, claiming the Old Trafford chief is 'the only manager who will not be punished' for outspoken attacks on referees.
Benítez is clearly irked by the lenient way he sees Ferguson treated by the FA, and hit back at Fergie’s moans about the fixtures schedule.
But his long list of complaints was not an angry rant as it was a measured, controlled delivery at the media conference ahead of Liverpool's trip to Stoke.
Benítez sat with a sheet of paper, unfolded in front of him, from which he read a catalogue of grievances against United regime.
He said: "All managers need to know is that only Mr Ferguson can talk about the fixtures, can talk about referees and nothing happens.
"We need to know that I am talking about facts, not my impression. There are things that everyone can see every single week.
"We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and the Football Association about the Respect campaign.
"During the campaign - and this is a fact - Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct after comments made about (referee) Martin Atkinson and (referees' chief) Keith Hackett.
"He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things.
"How can you talk about the respect campaign and criticise the referee every single week.
"And I was very clear, ‘Forget the campaign’ because Mr Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr Atkinson, killing Mr Hackett.
"Are they under pressure? Maybe they were not thinking that we would be at the top of the table in January. But we are at the top of the table and they are nervous.
"I am not telling the authorities what to do. But I have been here for five years and know how things are going on.
"We know what happens every time we go to Old Trafford and the United staff.
"They are always going man-to-man with the referees, especially at half-time when they walk close to the referees and they are talking and talking...
"Then he was talking about the fixtures. Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn't say anything.
"Now he is complaining about everything, that everybody is against United. But the second half of the season will see them playing at home against all the teams at the top of the table, it is a fantastic advantage.
"If he wants to talk about fixtures, and have a level playing field as you say in England. There are two options if we don't want more problems with fixtures.
"One is the same as in Spain, the draw for the first part of the league is known, everyone knows which weekend. In the second half everyone plays the opposite, so you all know.
"Sky and Setanta have the right to choose their games and it will be the same for everyone. So Mr Ferguson will not be complaining about fixtures and a campaign against United.
"Or there is another option. That Mr Ferguson organises the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone will know and cannot complain. That is simple."
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The Spaniard viciously went for his Manchester United counterpart, claiming the Old Trafford chief is 'the only manager who will not be punished' for outspoken attacks on referees.
Benítez is clearly irked by the lenient way he sees Ferguson treated by the FA, and hit back at Fergie’s moans about the fixtures schedule.
But his long list of complaints was not an angry rant as it was a measured, controlled delivery at the media conference ahead of Liverpool's trip to Stoke.
Benítez sat with a sheet of paper, unfolded in front of him, from which he read a catalogue of grievances against United regime.
He said: "All managers need to know is that only Mr Ferguson can talk about the fixtures, can talk about referees and nothing happens.
"We need to know that I am talking about facts, not my impression. There are things that everyone can see every single week.
"We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and the Football Association about the Respect campaign.
"During the campaign - and this is a fact - Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct after comments made about (referee) Martin Atkinson and (referees' chief) Keith Hackett.
"He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things.
"How can you talk about the respect campaign and criticise the referee every single week.
"And I was very clear, ‘Forget the campaign’ because Mr Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr Atkinson, killing Mr Hackett.
"Are they under pressure? Maybe they were not thinking that we would be at the top of the table in January. But we are at the top of the table and they are nervous.
"I am not telling the authorities what to do. But I have been here for five years and know how things are going on.
"We know what happens every time we go to Old Trafford and the United staff.
"They are always going man-to-man with the referees, especially at half-time when they walk close to the referees and they are talking and talking...
"Then he was talking about the fixtures. Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn't say anything.
"Now he is complaining about everything, that everybody is against United. But the second half of the season will see them playing at home against all the teams at the top of the table, it is a fantastic advantage.
"If he wants to talk about fixtures, and have a level playing field as you say in England. There are two options if we don't want more problems with fixtures.
"One is the same as in Spain, the draw for the first part of the league is known, everyone knows which weekend. In the second half everyone plays the opposite, so you all know.
"Sky and Setanta have the right to choose their games and it will be the same for everyone. So Mr Ferguson will not be complaining about fixtures and a campaign against United.
"Or there is another option. That Mr Ferguson organises the fixtures in his office and sends it to us and everyone will know and cannot complain. That is simple."
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