The former Liverpool midfielder was sent off against Man United in 2012 and launched a foul-mouthed rant at Sir Alex Ferguson
Jonjo Shelvey once dubbed the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson a “Scottish c***” after blaming him for his red card. But the iconic manager’s laid-back reaction left the England star stunned.
The former midfielder arrived at Liverpool in 2010 and served under Roy Hodgson and Sir Kenny Dalglish before Brendan Rodgers took control. Shelvey featured in the opening clash against Manchester United during the 2012/13 campaign but saw red in the first half following a tackle on Jonny Evans.
United emerged 2-1 winners that day, courtesy of strikes from Rafael and Robin van Persie, yet the spotlight remained firmly on Shelvey’s reaction to his dismissal. Speaking on the Undr the Cosh podcast, the 33-year-old revealed precisely what he said to Fergie whilst departing the Anfield turf in fury.
Shelvey said: “I still think it was a good tackle to this day. My dad’s got a picture up in his little flat of me coming in and Jonny Evans, his feet are like two-footing [into the tackle] but I’m sort of like scissor [kicking].
“I think the ref was Mark Halsey, and he sends me off, but as I get up, I can see Fergie in the fourth official’s ear. I’m thinking, ‘This is only going one way.’
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“The don said, ‘Send him off.’ And it was such a huge game, Liverpool, Man United. As I’m walking off, I just lost it and said, ‘It’s your fault I got sent off you, Scottish c***.'”
Despite this obvious display of frustration and disrespect, Ferguson didn’t hold a grudge and actually commended his rival for his passionate nature.
Shelvey added: “But then I see him after the game and I just said, ‘Look, I apologise for the way I spoke to you, it was wrong of me.’ He said, ‘No, don’t worry about it, I like it.’
“And then that was it, and then I played against his teams again after that and got on well with him. I think it just got blown out of proportion because of the magnitude of the game and he was spot on – just said, ‘Don’t worry about it.'”
Shelvey subsequently issued an apology on social media for his response to the dismissal, though he couldn’t resist another subtle swipe at Fergie in the process. Posting on X, he said: “I apologise to the fans for getting sent off, but no way was I pulling out of that tackle in a game of that importance. I’m sorry.
“I have also apologised to Sir Alex Ferguson. Where I come from, people don’t grass people up to get someone sent off.” United finished that season with the Premier League trophy, while Shelvey had to settle for a seventh-place finish with Liverpool.
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