Maybe a temporary insanity plea would help…
The Guardian report:
‘Sir Alex Ferguson may face a disrepute charge unless he can convince the Football Association he had legitimate reasons to claim there was something "sinister" about the number of penalties Manchester United have had turned down this season.
‘The FA's disciplinary department believes there may be a case to answer and has written to the United manager to ask him to explain his comments. He has until Tuesday to respond, when the FA must decide whether or not to charge him with misconduct, with a potential fine if he is subsequently found guilty.
‘Ferguson claimed United are paying the price for Wayne Rooney's exaggerated tumble over Sol Campbell's outstretched leg to win a penalty against Arsenal last October. The referee that day, Mike Riley, has subsequently seen his record of awarding United penalties heavily scrutinised amid claims from the Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger that the official has a history of favouring Ferguson's players.
‘"Since that penalty kick against Arsenal it seems to me we are not going to get another one, no matter what the circumstances," said Ferguson. "One of our players will need to get shot for us to get one." In fact United have been awarded two since the Arsenal game.'