English Opinion

It isn’t very often that the main headlines on the evening news features  story about football in its top three list but that is exactly wht happened today. As a season ticket holder at Aston Villa, I looked on in relish as Liverpool manager Raphael Benitez held a press conference and proceeded to highlight facts that every football fan, bar those that support Manchester United, had been wanting to point out for years - that Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United side get preferential treatment from the Football Association and every single referee out there!

I really enjoyed the press conference and found a new respect for Rafa Benitez as a result of it. I cannot stand the whingers over at Manchester United and have discussed the “one rule for Man Utd, one rule for everyone else” mentality that everyone at the FA seems to have adopted some time ago and waited with baited breath for someone that had the balls to say it out loud… and finally someone has!

Rafa Benitez basically pointed out that Ferguson and Manchester United have received preferential treatment for years. They are the only ones that get away with flaunting the RESPECT campaign by criticising referees publically every chance they get. They get better fixtures than anyone else that may challenge them for the title. They also get reduced punishments for infractions. Benitez did not give his opinions on the topic but simply stuck to the facts, and all of them were facts. Surprisingly enough, Manchester United declined to comment on the press conference, but then they would not do so given the fact that everything Rafa said was accurate!

Since the press conference, Man Utd fans have been voicing their opinions on Sky Sports news, stating that Benitez was losing the plot and was worried about United. The rest of us reacted in much the same way - good on him because it’s about time that someone said something. Manchester United are hated up and down the UK not because of their success but because of the fact that they break rules week in and week out that other managers and players get punished for. Well things have to change because th FA may find a revolt on their hands if they don’t now given the support that fans everywhere will give Benitez over Ferguson. Especially now it’s out in the open!

I hope the FA do address it and provide a fairer football experience for all of us that work hard and spend money on tickets week in week out now because Manchester United has gotten away with too much for too long. Ferguson cannot complain about the way he and his players are treated at all and I hope now they get to learn exactly how the rest of the Premiership and fans feel every time they get away with a disgusting tackle, petulant behaviour, penalties that are not actually fouls and the constant moaning. I really hope that they finally learn what it is like to be equal!

Go Rafa!

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