Alex Ferguson/Illustration by Gordon White
Alex Ferguson–excuse me, Sir Alex Ferguson–manager of Manchester United, has lifted his ban on speaking to the BBC.
The shunning of the British television giant came in 2004, after the BBC broadcasted a documentary making allegations about Ferguson’s sports agent son James.
The documentary, “Father and Son”, portrayed James as taking advantage of his father’s prominent place in the sports world.
Deciding that the BBC was “arrogant beyond belief” and had an “inability to apologize,” Fergie announced–a bit like a five-year old–that he would not speak to the BBC for the rest of his life.
Also, similar to a young child demanding that he be addressed as king, Ferguson released the following (jointly with the BBC) announcing the lifting of his ban, referring to himself in the third-person. statement
“Sir Alex and the BBC have put behind them the difficulties which led to Sir Alex feeling unable to appear on BBC programmes.”
Like many children, Ferguson likes a large stuffed animal, or in this case a devil, to accompany him around. Photo by AtilatheHun on Flickr
I’m glad Sir Alex is appeased.
Much like what would happen in America, Ferguson was fined by the league every time he refused a BBC interview request. This was because the television contract stipulated the manager be available to the media.
The easily irritated Fergie has, according to The Guardian, “periodically imposed bans on virtually every media organisation at one time or another…”
Further Reading
The Guardian: Fergie turns BBC protest into “lifetime ban”
The Guardian: Sir Alex Ferguson lifts seven-year ban on talking to BBC
The Independent: Ferguson will never talk talk to the BBC again
