Keane Hints at Ferguson 'hypocrisy' Over Referees

Roy Keane has accused fellow managers, including Sir Alex Ferguson, of paying lip service to the idea of respecting match officials while actively undermining them.

"There are a lot of hypocrites in football," said Sunderland's manager. "A manager was talking last week about respecting referees; the same manager has been sent off this season for foul and abusive language. If managers don't respect officials, how can you expect players to?"

That was a clear reference to Ferguson, his former manager at Manchester United who was dismissed by Mark Clattenburg at Bolton in November for using insulting language towards officials.

Keane then criticized Ferguson's outburst about the refereeing of United's FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth, hinting that the Scot had adopted an intimidatory stance. "I don't think any manager should have any power above anybody else," he added. "United had 20 chances to score during that game and didn't take any. It [Ferguson's invective] surprised me. Manchester United always taught me to be a gracious loser, but they weren't that day."

Despite many brushes with officialdom as a player Keane is now a staunch supporter of the Football Association-led Respect initiative. Yet, as he admits: "The problem for me when I comment is people say, 'How can you?'"

He does not, however, appear remotely deterred from voicing fears that the "Respect agenda" is likely to founder in the face of managerial double standards.

Juande Ramos appears determined to embrace the vision of Tottenham Hotspur's chairman, Daniel Levy, of ultimately achieving Champions League status. Levy yesterday stressed the need "to improve and establish ourselves as a main contender", to which Ramos responded: "I am very happy that the chairman has expressed the opinion that he wants the team to progress. If, on a sporting level, the club has to be more ambitious, we need to prepare a team to fight to get into the top four. If that is the objective of the club, then I am delighted."