Premiership Referee Alan Wiley, the man who was branded “just not fit enough” by Manchester United head coach Sir Alex Ferguson (which ultimately led to a four match Improper Conduct ban handed down by the FA Regulatory Commission) has decided to walk away from the controversy and focus on the game.

Via Guardian

The United manager has since apologised and the referees’ union Prospect has now confirmed Wiley will not be pursuing a case for defamation against Ferguson.

“Although I was bitterly disappointed about the personal attack on me I want to put this behind me and continue to concentrate on my refereeing,” said Wiley.

Prospect has also written to the FA to seek greater support for referees and call for stronger action if there are similar verbal attacks in the future.

“Unwarranted and untrue attacks on referees damage the hard-earned reputation of our members, call into question their integrity and damage the image of the game by suggesting that the referees are incapable of doing their job,” said Prospect’s national secretary, Alan Leighton. “Referees understand and accept that their decisions will be questioned, but personal attacks are unacceptable.”

Image via TheRepublicOfMancunia