Fergie will not tolerate ref bashing March 22 2008
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he will not allow his players to harangue referees.
The lack of respect shown to officials in the game has been a major talking point this week after Chelsea defender Ashley Cole turned his back on referee Mike Riley as he tried to book the England international.
The Cole incident came just a day after the Football Association launched a grass-roots trial scheme, whereby only captains can speak to match officials, aimed at improving the situation.
Ferguson has applauded these efforts to address the problem and said he would not accept similar behaviour from his own team.
The Scot feels United have learned from an infamous incident in 2000 when a group of players, led by former skipper Roy Keane, chased referee Andy D'Urso after he awarded Middlesbrough a controversial penalty.
Ferguson said: "We had a pivotal moment a few years ago when my players surrounded Andy D'Urso. I was off my head with them, I thought it was ridiculous. It never happened again.
"We tell them to shake the hand of the referee after the game, when it is finished. It is sometimes difficult but you have to do it, in the same way as when you lose a game and you invite the opposing manager in for a drink after the game.
"I saw the other night one of my players changed his jersey with one of the Bolton players who had committed 10 fouls against him. I said that was good because the match was over, all forgotten, we move on with life. I think that's what we have to do.
"We are talking about introducing this into the grass-roots level, respect for the referee. It is absolutely correct. The haranguing of referees is ridiculous, we know that."
The Red Devils take on fierce rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday looking to protect their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
It could prove a crucial day in the title race with United's closest pursuers, Arsenal, taking on third-placed Chelsea later in the day.
Rafael Benitez's Reds are fourth in the table, 11 points behind the champions, but in high spirits after winning their last seven games and joining Sunday's opponents in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League.
Ferguson expects the atmosphere, for what he refers to as a derby, to be as ferocious as usual.
He said: "You can't avoid the intensity of it, the tension, the atmosphere. The Liverpool game brings out a certain anticipation in players. It's a game players all want to play in, so we'll have some disappointed players who are not playing.
"Liverpool coming to our ground, a derby game, is always a difficult game. We have to do our preparation but if we play to our form we will have a good chance against anyone. We hope we can continue our form and get the result we want."