1. Fergie: RVP could have been killed
Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed Swansea captain Ashley Williams could have killed Robin van Persie when he struck the ball at the Dutchman's head during the teams' 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium.
Van Persie reacted angrily when Williams fired the ball at him from close range - apparently to make a clearance although the whistle had already gone for a foul in United's favour - leading referee Michael Oliver to show yellow cards to both players.
Ferguson, though, told Sky Sports after the game that he believed Williams' actions had been "absolutely deliberate" and that they were extremely dangerous.
"The whistle has gone, the game is stopped and he's done that right in front of the referee," the United boss said. "He could have really killed the lad. It's a disgraceful act. He should be banned for a long, long time."
Football Association rules mean no retrospective action can be taken against Williams due to the fact the referee saw and dealt with the incident at the time, but Ferguson said: "He could have been killed - the referee has got to look into it.
"Irrespective of him having a yellow card, he ought to be banned for a long time because that's the most dangerous thing I've seen on a football field for many, many years."
Williams had looked to downplay the incident in his own post-match interview with Sky Sports.
"I tried to clear the ball. It hit him on the head,'' he said. "I was trying to clear the ball. He was obviously a bit angry about that. It was a much ado about nothing."
Swansea boss Michael Laudrup was surprised when informed of Ferguson's remarks.
He said: "I did not see it at the time as there were a lot of players involved, but I saw it afterwards. I don't think he (Ferguson) meant literally killing him.
"Things happen in a game and I am sure Ashley and Van Persie shook hands at the final whistle and we move on. When your pulse is on 180 then you can say things during the game you don't mean but then afterwards it is back to normal."
2. Sir Alex Ferguson Calls for Ashley Williams Ban After Robin van Persie Incident
That's because Williams booted the ball directly into the back of Robin van Persie's head after the United striker was fouled and went down just outside of the box. As play was stopped, Williams kicked the ball and drilled van Persie, causing the striker to fly to his feet in an outrage and nearly incite a fight.
Despite Sir Alex Ferguson's pleas to the FA, the governing body has decided against banning Williams for kicking a ball into van Persie's head on Sunday.
From The Guardian:
The Football Association will not take action against the Swansea Citydefender Ashley Williams for kicking a ball at the head of Manchester United's Robin van Persie.
United's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, called on the FA to ban Williams for a long time, claiming Van Persie "could have been killed" by the incident.
But the governing body will not instigate disciplinary procedures against the Wales international, who denied malicious intent.
Williams has responded to the incident and to Sir Alex's opinion on the matter, via BBC:
Everyone's going to have their own opinion. From my point of view, I tried to apologize on the pitch but obviously it all flared up. I kicked the ball in frustration, I'm obviously not trying to hit him square on the head. I tried to apologize but didn't get the chance.
Ferguson didn't hold back when commenting on Williams' actions after the game (via Goal.com):
Well it was a foul on Van Persie, a clear foul, but then again, the referee has had one of those days and not given us anything. He had a shocking performance today.It's hard to blame the United manager for seething after the incident. While there remains the slightest of possibilities that Williams' actions were unintentional, it certainly appeared as though he purposefully sent the ball into the back of Van Persie's head.
I know he is a young referee but I was disappointed with that performance. The Van Persie situation, he clearly sees the incident.
He could have been killed. I think the FA has got to look into it—irrespective of him getting a yellow card, he should be banned for a long time, because that was one of the most dangerous things I have seen on a football pitch in a long time. Absolutely deliberate.
The whistle had gone, the game stopped and he has done that right in front of the referee. He could really have killed the lad.
If that's the case, Ferguson is right—Williams must be banned, and the suspension should be a lengthy one. Van Persie could have been hurt badly, especially from that distance.
Normally, I might accuse Ferguson of hyperbole here or allowing his frustration with his team to fester after United saw their lead over rivals Manchester City shrink from six points to four. In this case, though, I think his anger is totally justified.
I would expect Williams to publicly apologize without admitting he struck Van Persie on purpose. I expect he'll say he kicked the ball in frustration, but never attempted to hit Van Persie, though kicking the ball in such close proximity to a fallen player was dangerous and in poor judgement.
We'll see if the FA buys that or takes any further action. I imagine we haven't heard the last of this situation, not by a long shot.
3. Sir Alex Ferguson hails Robin van Persie's impact at Man Utd
Robin van Persie is the "last piece of the jigsaw" for leaders Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed.
The striker's 12 goals in 18 games have helped the 29-year-old's new club to a four-point Premier League lead. "I am reluctant to subscribe to the cult of an individual. But sometimes you find the last piece of the jigsaw," the United manager said.
United lost last season's title on goal difference but are currently the top scoring team thanks to the Dutchman.
The reigning Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year and Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year has made a huge impact at Old Trafford since he joined in the summer from Arsenal for £24m, scoring 15 goals in all competitions. Van Persie's timing in the league has also proved crucial as he has scored the opening United goal in five games and the winning goal in five games, with the highlight being the crucial 3-2 victory away to rivals Manchester City.
If his strikes were subtracted from his club's total, table toppers United would be 15 points worse off in eighth place.
His tally in all competitions is well ahead of the other first team United strikers, with Danny Welbeck 14 behind, Wayne Rooney seven goals off and Javier Hernandez closest to him on nine.
Van Persie's influence has been compared to that of iconic Frenchman Eric Cantona when he led United to their first league title in 26 years despite the fact that when he arrived from Leeds in November 1992 Ferguson's team were languishing in mid-table.
Speaking in the programme for Boxing Day's visit of Newcastle, Ferguson said: "We did it when we brought Eric Cantona to Old Trafford where he proved to be the right player at the right club at the right time.
"He became the catalyst and springboard for our surge to success.
"It doesn't have to be signing someone for a record fee. Cristiano Ronaldo was not a record buy either but he certainly made a difference as he prospered with us to the extent that he came to be regarded by a lot of people as the world's best player."
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