Man United faces punishments for manager Alex Ferguson’s boycott of BBC, news conferences

Man U faces sanctions for Ferguson’s BBC boycott

LONDON — Manchester United will be punished by the English Premier League if manager Alex Ferguson keeps boycotting the British Broadcasting Corporation in the upcoming season.

Ferguson — the most successful manager in British soccer history — has refused to speak to the BBC for six years since an investigation was aired questioning the business dealings of his son Jason, who was then working as a soccer agent. He was not found guilty of wrongdoing.

The Premier League is introducing the new rule, which will take effect at the start of the season in August. It will force the 68-year-old Ferguson to speak to the BBC, which pays to show highlights of matches on its popular evening Match of the Day program, and BBC Radio Five Live, which airs live commentaries.

The potential penalty hasn’t been revealed, but could be a financial one. Ferguson also refuses to speak to members of the written press after Premier League matches.

“All managers are required to attend in person and participate in post-match interviews held by or for the benefit of a UK broadcaster or radio broadcaster,” the Premier League rule book will state next season. “Failure to do so without just cause shall be a breach of these rules.”

The English champions — owned by American Malcolm Glazer — are the only topflight club to boycott post-match press conferences on a weekly basis. But the league will demand that Ferguson or a member of the coaching staff speak to reporters after matches.

United also is prone to banning selected reporters of the written and broadcast media from attending some pre-match press conferences at the club’s training ground.

Ferguson does fulfill his obligations for the UEFA Champions League by attending media conferences before and after matches.