Sir Alex Ferguson accused Roberto Mancini of "badgering" the officials after the pair clashed on the touchline during the Manchester derby.
Manchester City prevailed 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to captain Vincent Kompany's first-half header to take them top of the Barclays Premier League table, above United on goal difference with two games each left to play.
The managers had to be kept apart on the touchline by fourth official Mike Jones after a difference of opinion over Nigel de Jong's foul on Danny Welbeck led to angry words and gestures being exchanged, although the pair did shake hands at the final whistle.
Ferguson said: "He was badgering the referee the whole game, the fourth official and the linesman, and the minute I go out there...
"He was complaining about referees all week, he can't be complaining tonight, that's for sure."
Victorious Mancini played the incident down, adding: "I don't remember (what the row was about). I told the fourth official it was a foul for us, not against.
"At that moment the tension was high, but for me it's forgotten."
what do you think?
Betram Cundy
Old Red Nose must think HE'S the only one who's aloud to badger officials - what a hypocrite! He can't outplay City and his mind games aren't working against Mancini - we're witnessing the end of the Fergie era :-)
andy may
i'm not a city supporter, but doesn't ferguson ever get embarrassed? what a hypocrite.
Allan Evans
Fergie can dish it out BUT he can't take it back. Just further proof of the cheating, foul mouth, whinging excuses for the "professionl" footballer team he has created.
Phylip de la Maziere
Grow up jock come on city
Michael Craw
Sorry Fergie but Pot, Kettle, and Black spring to mind. Look at yourself before you critizise others. Glad you lost!!!!!!!
Rob Shaw
Some great comments here. He is such a hypocrite. Complains about badgering ref's, but where did the 5 minutes of extra time come from? Fergie, that's where. Few decisions didn't go your way boo hoo, doesn't even nearly balance out the amount of dodgy decisions united have had given to them
Graham Lightfoot
Any excuse by Fergie will do because he lost. It's always the ref to blame, how about the other team being better than Man U. This red nosed pensioner is the unacceptable face of sport today. A bad looser.
kyle rambo
he's a sore loser aint he
Ron Adler
Ferguson the great sportsman!! Just accept it and move on. You are a very poor example of how sportsmanship is defined.
Gordon Berry
United deserved to lose. Great pity. Don't blame the ref. B;lame the team selection
Austin Samara
Ferguson is an old man now football is young man's game you had very good run over excitement can give you heart problem time to retire enjoy life fergi
Ken Wedderburn
Sad sad drunken old man! Get a reallity check! Utd were completly out played and your ref was not on the pitch!
Gwyn Jones
Lets face it is time their luck ran out. And for overated Looney if he carries on with the same negative style he has played this seaon in the next season he'll be joining Accrington Stanley on a free transfer. Over weight - Over rated and Over sexed lock up your grannies when Looney's about.
Gerald Mcloughlin
nice to see fergie and man utd get done again,we at everton started their downfall
Robbie369P .
Thought it was Wigan?
Dorrien Phillips
It was Wigan..but for Everton a draw is special
Stephen Bayley
EXACTLY WHY I DONT WATCH FOOTBALL ANYMORE BAD LOSERS BAD ATTITUDE, THE GAME HAS BEEN SPOILT WITH OVER RATED AND OVER PAYED BRATS. HOW THEY CAN CALL IT THE ENGLISH PREM IS BEYOND ME, MORE LIKE THE FOREIGN LEAGUE PREM
Gary Djuncleabe Kelly
So wino Fergie is throwing teddy out of the pram because it didn't go his way .... SHAME
Stephen Bayley
DOES THAT MAN EVER STOP LOOKING AT HIS WATCH, FOR GOD SAKE SOMEONE GET HIM A NEW ONE AS HIS HAS STOPPED
Mick Daniel
Rubbish, over paid over pampered players, rubbish managers with loud mouths and rubbish entertainment. This country should get rid of this pathetic excuse for sport
Stephanie Thraves
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Alan Proudman
6:42am on 1/5/2012
Great game,always going to be close. Let's hope the title race still has a twist before the end.