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Sir Alex Ferguson
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has hit back at Sir Alex Ferguson in the row over his planned meeting with referees boss Keith Hackett.
Mourinho was unhappy with the performance of Graham Poll in Chelsea's defeat to Tottenham last Sunday and emailed Hackett with his complaints.
Ferguson called Hackett's decision to meet Mourinho "absolutely ludicrous" but the Portuguese tactician has now responded by saying the Manchester United manager should be the last person to accuse others of getting preferential treatment.
Mourinho specifically referred to the shot from Pedro Mendes against United two seasons ago which clearly crossed the line but was not adjudged to be a goal, and the dubious penalty decision that went United's way against Portsmouth last Saturday.
"For me everything is very clear. I promise you one thing, if I had the ball two metres inside my goal and the referee doesn't allow the goal, I wouldn't speak about referees for two years," he said.
"And if, in the first minute of the game, I have a penalty to kill my opponent before they wake up, I wouldn't speak about referees for one year. I promise."
Mourinho also explained that he decided to contact Hackett because he had been told at the start of the season that all Premiership managers were free to do so.
"Every manager of the Premiership was invited to a meeting," he recalled.
"I went to the meeting because I have no hobbies. For me my life is football and my family.
"On my table, Adrian Boothroyd was there, Martin Jol, Harry Redknapp, Glenn Roeder, and Chris Coleman.
"At the end of the meeting Mr Hackett told us, `please during the season if you want to give a contribution to the game or think you can give some opinions, call me or send me an email'.
"He gave a card to everybody and after the game against Reading I almost called him but decided not to do so.
"After the game against Sheffield United, I almost called him but I didn't.
"After the game against Tottenham, I couldn't do anything else but call him. I don't know when but we will have a chat. Every manager in the Premiership was invited to do the same.
"Sir Alex was not at my meeting but I think there were two meetings - one in London and another one up in the North for managers from different areas.
"I don't know if he was at that one."
Mourinho was unhappy with the performance of Graham Poll in Chelsea's defeat to Tottenham last Sunday and emailed Hackett with his complaints.
Ferguson called Hackett's decision to meet Mourinho "absolutely ludicrous" but the Portuguese tactician has now responded by saying the Manchester United manager should be the last person to accuse others of getting preferential treatment.
Mourinho specifically referred to the shot from Pedro Mendes against United two seasons ago which clearly crossed the line but was not adjudged to be a goal, and the dubious penalty decision that went United's way against Portsmouth last Saturday.
"For me everything is very clear. I promise you one thing, if I had the ball two metres inside my goal and the referee doesn't allow the goal, I wouldn't speak about referees for two years," he said.
"And if, in the first minute of the game, I have a penalty to kill my opponent before they wake up, I wouldn't speak about referees for one year. I promise."
Mourinho also explained that he decided to contact Hackett because he had been told at the start of the season that all Premiership managers were free to do so.
"Every manager of the Premiership was invited to a meeting," he recalled.
"I went to the meeting because I have no hobbies. For me my life is football and my family.
"On my table, Adrian Boothroyd was there, Martin Jol, Harry Redknapp, Glenn Roeder, and Chris Coleman.
"At the end of the meeting Mr Hackett told us, `please during the season if you want to give a contribution to the game or think you can give some opinions, call me or send me an email'.
"He gave a card to everybody and after the game against Reading I almost called him but decided not to do so.
"After the game against Sheffield United, I almost called him but I didn't.
"After the game against Tottenham, I couldn't do anything else but call him. I don't know when but we will have a chat. Every manager in the Premiership was invited to do the same.
"Sir Alex was not at my meeting but I think there were two meetings - one in London and another one up in the North for managers from different areas.
"I don't know if he was at that one."
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