Ferguson backs Eduardo ban
Reuters - Friday 04 September 2009, 14:24
NYON, Switzerland - Manchester United
manager Alex Ferguson has backed UEFA's decision to ban Arsenal
striker Eduardo da Silva for deceiving a referee.
"It was a high profile game and something has to be done,"
Ferguson said when referring to the ban after a UEFA-organised
meeting of some of Europe's top club coaches.
"(In a big game) it creates an incredible reaction from the
media and public in these instances," he told reporters.
"Something should be done and we hope the message gets across."
Ferguson's comments came three days after Eduardo was judged
by UEFA to have deceived the referee when he won a penalty
during a 3-1 Champions League playoff win over Celtic. The
Brazilian-born Croatia striker was banned for two games.
But Ferguson added: "I would not criticise one of my own
players publicly. When you make public criticism of your
players, you damage morale. Your job is to keep it (the
dressing-room) solid."
He also sympathised with his long-term Premier League rival,
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who complained Eduardo had been
singled out, and said high-profile games should be targeted.
"Arsene's point of view is a good one which is 'Where do we
stop?'" said Ferguson.
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Wenger confirmed Arsenal had appealed against Eduardo's ban
but was reluctant to say any more about the incident.
"It's best not to say too much," he told reporters.
"Everyone I have talked to at the club believes that it's in
our best interests to keep quiet and try to get justice done."
Ferguson said diving was a major worry among leading coaches
and talking to players was the key to eradicating the problem.
"I don't think any coach is proud of it when players
simulate to get decisions," he added. "A coach can't be proud if
his team have won that way."
"Nobody can proud. A player can't be proud one hour
afterwards when he sits with his brothers and sisters and father
and mother."
"You have to remember five-year-olds are watching," said
Ferguson. "Players in a Sunday team do it. It happens at five or
six years old. We all have a responsibility on how it influences
young people."
"It's a very difficult area because I think in the last 15
years it has crept into the game and it is not acceptable.
"I think we have to combat this by educating the players and
by getting them to understand the gravity of the offence and
what it does for the well being of the game.
"We all agree that education is the best way forward, from
the youth team to the first team players."