Premier League referee called Sir Alex Ferguson ‘love’ on first meeting

Sir Alex Ferguson’s reputation led to a number of famous anecdotes surfacing over the years.

Players and managers alike knew the Scot commanded respect and most were duly subordinate.

However, more recently, referee Bobby Madley has even admitted that during his first met with the former Manchester United boss, he too froze in fear.

“The reason I was nervous was not because of the players; it was the manager,” Madley explained to The Athletic.

“He was this legend … a football legend. All I could think was, ‘What do I call him? Do I call him Alex? Or Sir Alex? Or Mister Ferguson? Is “Sir Alex” showing too much respect?’

“I had to go to the dressing room to check the studs and jewellery. I walked up to the Manchester United dressing room. I expected someone – maybe the guy with the water bottles – to answer.

“The manager answered! I didn’t know what to say. I’d never been starstruck before. What I should say is, ‘Hello, Alex.’ I went, ‘Hey up, love.’ His face! ‘Hey up, love’?”

It comes after former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg admitted that Ferguson’s ‘aura’ meant his club earned favourable decisions.

The Geordie ref wrote in his Daily Mail column the difference between the Red Devils legend and Jurgen Klopp.

“[Klopp] is clearly getting edgy, though, because not since Fergie have we seen such a blatant attempt to influence a referee ahead of a big game.

Do you think referees were too lenient with Ferguson? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

“Klopp wasn't doing this last season when Liverpool were winning every week.

“He does not like losing, he never has. He gets prickly. But he is wrong to suggest there is an aura around United that sees them given favourable decisions. There used to be when Fergie was there, but that has eased massively since he left.

“I am the only referee to give three penalties to the opposition at Old Trafford, and that was for Liverpool, of all teams, in 2014.

“But David Moyes was manager — I'm not sure that would have happened when Fergie was there!”

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