Harte hits back at Ferguson - March 9, 2001
Republic of Ireland international Ian Harte arrived back from Madrid to read Alex Ferguson 'diver' accusations yesterday - and quickly hit back at the United boss, describing him as "confused".
The Drogheda-born Leeds United full back told his own web-site: "After the match Ferguson admitted he thought Barthez was going to be sent off after kicking out at me. The man never makes mistakes you know, yet he's obviously changed his mind. I think he's confused himself.
"It seems obvious to me he's just looking after his players. Anyone looking on the TV will see he kicked out at me. Last year I kicked out at Dennis Bergkamp when we were playing Arsenal at home and I was sent off. It does seem as though there is one rule for one team and another for the rest of us."
But Marcus Stewart - the Ipswich Town striker sent off for a two-footed tackle on Harte - has backed Ferguson.
He said: "I saw Saturday's incident and there's no doubt that Barthez caught Harte but he jumped in the air like he was on a trampoline. It was definitely a foul, as it was with me, but Harte made a meal of it. I could understand Harte going down if he was hurt but the way he jumped up in the air and his facial expressions were so over-the-top.
"I don't think he was badly hurt at all. It seems to just be something that Ian Harte does."
Stewart was the first to accuse Harte of diving, claiming the Irishman had wrecked the Ipswich striker's chances of playing for England by getting him sent off.
But the FA later vindicated Harte by upholding Stewart's red card and imposing a suspension.