Now Fergie says 'You're cheating, Harte'! - March 6, 2001
Republic of Ireland international Ian Harte has been accused of cheating for the second time in a month - this time by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
Harte won a penalty in Saturday's Roses match between Leeds and Man Utd when 'keeper Fabien Barthez kicked him following a niggly tussle. In the event, Harte took the kick himself and Barthez saved it.
Afterwards, Leeds manager Dave O'Leary claimed Barthez should have been sent off - and Ferguson has now responded by alleging that Harte cheated.
"He made a meal of it," Ferguson said. "We all know that Harte has had players sent off this season. Even the media has criticised him in European games for getting players sent off. Harte's record for diving is well known in the game.
"In the context of the player involved and his record for diving you have to say we did not deserve to have a player sent off."
Ferguson's comments are entirely unjustified, since TV replays showed Barthez clearly kicking Harte from behind as the Irishman ran away. The footage ruled out any suggestion of a dive.
The Manchester United manager would have been more justified had he accused Harte of starting the incident, since TV also showed that the Drogheda-born full back had fouled Barthez first.
For the record, one player - Ipswich Town's Marcus Stewart - has so far publicly accused Ian Harte of diving to get him sent off; and in that case, the FA vindicated Harte by upholding Stewart's red card and imposing a suspension.
But for fans who didn't see either incident, Ferguson's opportunistic outburst is bound to carry weight.