You may love or hate Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United but he has such impeccable credentials in international football that you cannot ignore him. His long uninterrupted sojourn at Old Trafford since1986 has won him a lot of friends and enemies worldwide.

The wily Scot does not hide the fact that he knows his subject and on some occasions, the most die hard Manchester United fan finds it difficult to understand the sort of selections he makes. But life goes on. In his chosen profession referees can never be his friends. He appears to be most suspicious of the knights of the whistle and his outspoken nature has brought a lot of antagonism between him and the referees who would definitely be happy to see him disappear from the football world.

That explains why the referees feel Sir Alex was not given enough punishment for the remarks he made about Mr. Wiley who handled United’s recent premier League match against Sunderland at Old Trafford. The four match ban, with two suspended till after next season, and a fine of 20,000 pounds, does not find favour with the referees who most probably had wanted Sir Alex banned for the rest of the season.

The referees maintain that the FA missed an opportunity to make a statement. I totally disagree with them. What the FA Disciplinary body told Sir Alex at the hearing meant much more than even a life ban. All four members of the regulatory body said they recognized Ferguson’s achievements and stature within the game and emphasized that “with such stature comes an increased responsibility”. Emphasis mine.

According to the FA regulations, club managers are allowed to comment on officials’ performance but any remarks must not imply bias, question their integrity or engage in what could be considered as a personal attack.

Ironically, this is exactly what the FA disciplinary people have done to Sir Alex. He has been told, in not too many words though, that with his stature, he should know better. Such a reprimand, in my estimation, is much more hurting than a long touchline ban.

Sir Alex has been warned about his conduct as the second part of his ban is suspended till after next season. In other words he has been asked to go and sin no more. And being a man of conscience and having no immediate plans to retire from his vocation, he has a big “Sword of Damocles” hanging on his head. He should expect a lot of provocations and this is where he must stand firm and shame the devil. I can’t hide my bias for United.

The lesson in the Alex Ferguson saga is that, sports officials must watch their language otherwise there would be trouble just like what has happened to athletics officials in South Africa whose contradictory statements about the gender controversy surrounding the world’s 800 metres women’s champion Caster Semanya has led to their suspension.

In my capacity as chairman of Caster Semanya Fan Club, I am happy that Athletics South Africa has made a public apology to Caster and her family, the President of South Africa as well as to all South Africans for the handling of Caster’s gender verification processes and the subsequent aftermath.

Winnie Mandela, South Africa’s veteran lady politician is not amused by the apology. She has hit at the athletics officials for lying and justifying their lies, "instead of protecting Caster they have deepened the wound” she said.

Well the sages say without such hiccups even in sports, the world would be a dull place to live.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.