UNITED TO REJECT MEDIATION ATTEMPTS

Last updated : 20 January 2005 By editor

Independent reports:

‘Manchester United have no intention of entering into mediation with Arsenal before their vital Premiership match on 1 February and feel that there is no figure within English football who would have the reputation to bring Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger to an agreement.

‘Sources at United have indicated that the club will not be forced into an "empty gesture" simply to placate those who feel that the exchanges between Wenger and Ferguson have had a detrimental effect on the game's image. Officials at United are still smarting from the suggestion that they "kicked Arsenal off the pitch" during the match on 24 October which caused such controversy.

‘Following that game, there was a fear that a new public perception of United as a physical side would affect the impartiality of the referee for the crucial match at Highbury on 1 February. Those were concerns that Ferguson addressed in his interview with The Independent and the United manager's views are reflected by others at the top of Old Trafford hierarchy.’