Wenger loses his cool over Ferguson

SOCCER: Arsene Wenger's apparent inability to resist Alex Ferguson's provocation culminated in another barrage of insults and the possibility of further sanctions yesterday. The Arsenal manager accused his Manchester United counterpart of "bringing the game into disrepute" and last night it emerged that the Football Association is rapidly losing patience with both men.

Although the FA opted against making any public comment, high-ranking officials at Soho Square have let it be known they are "totally fed up of the persistent, petulant bickering of high-profile managers". Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, is already under investigation after his inflammatory "cheat" comments about United, and the FA wants the League Managers' Association to take a more active role in defusing the tensions.

The frustration is understandable given that Geoff Thompson, the FA's chairman, sent strongly worded letters to Old Trafford and Highbury before Christmas expressing his dismay about the acrimony between the clubs.

Thompson has also spoken at length to David Gill, United's chief executive, and David Dein, Arsenal's vice-chairman, to emphasise the need for an improvement in behaviour. The message was supposed to be passed on to Ferguson and Wenger who, in turn, were expected to brief their players.

Instead, Ferguson reignited the feud with a stinging, calculated attack on Wenger in Saturday's London Independent newspaper. In a stream of insults he described Wenger as "a disgrace" and alleged that the Arsenal manager had "his hands raised" during the so-called Battle of the Buffet at Old Trafford in October. Wenger is supposed to have advanced towards Ferguson, shouting: "What do you want to do about it?"

Ferguson is understood to have had two conversations with the newspaper and chose to put his feelings about Wenger explicitly on the record in the second of them. The controversy has all but ended the FA's hopes of a more dignified approach to the next game between the clubs, at Highbury on February 1st.

"What I don't understand is that he (Ferguson) does what he wants and you are all at his feet," said a livid Wenger. "In England you have a good phrase. It is 'to bring the game into disrepute'. But that should not apply only after the game has taken place. The managers have a responsibility to protect the game before it starts. Yet in England it seems you are only punished for what you say afterwards.

"There is a big game next month and we have a responsibility. Yet he does what he wants. He should go abroad and see how it is over there."

When it was put to Wenger than Ferguson had accused him of threatening behaviour he was unequivocal in his response. "I have always been consistent with my story and told you nothing happened in the corridor.

"For me, what is important is that we have a responsibility before the game. In England it is too easy - and too many people get away with this - to prepare an explosive. He can say what he wants. It is his responsibility. As far as Ferguson is concerned, one thing is very simple - I will never answer any question any more about this man. I am not going to answer any provocation from him any more."

"Is that the end of diplomatic relations for good?" he was asked. "I have no diplomatic relations with that man," he replied.

The FA believes Gill and Dein should rein in the two managers and that the insults will stop only if there is a united effort from the FA, the clubs and the LMA. Thompson had toyed with calling a meeting of representatives of both clubs and that idea may be rekindled.