An ex-Liverpool midfielder yelled in Sir Alex Ferguson's face after being sent off for a harsh tackle in a crucial clash
Jonjo Shelvey of Liverpool screams abuse at Sir Alex Ferguson the head coach / manager of Manchester United after being sent off.
The former Liverpool midfielder had a few choice words for Fergie(Image: AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Jonjo Shelvey once called the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson a "Scottish c***" after blaming him for his dismissal. However, the iconic manager's relaxed response took the England international by surprise.
The former midfielder joined Liverpool in 2010 and worked under Roy Hodgson and Sir Kenny Dalglish before Brendan Rodgers took over. Shelvey played in the first meeting against Manchester United in the 2012/13 season but was sent off in the first half for a challenge on Jonny Evans.
United ran out 2-1 winners on the day with goals from Rafael and Robin van Persie, but all focus was on Shelvey's response to his sending off. During an appearance on the Undr the Cosh podcast, the now-33-year-old revealed exactly what he said to Fergie as he stormed off the Anfield pitch.
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.'
Referee Mark Halsey shows Jonjo Shelvey of Liverpool the red card during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on September 23, 2012 in Liverpool, England.
Shelvey was sent off for a tackle on Jonny Evans(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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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 clear act of frustration and disrespect, Ferguson took no offence and even praised his opponent for his fiery 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.'"
Jonjo Shelvey of Liverpool screams abuse at Sir Alex Ferguson the head coach / manager of Manchester United after being sent off.
Shelvey later apologised to Ferguson for his outburst(Image: AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Shelvey also later apologised on social media for his reaction to the sending off, but made another fresh dig at Fergie in the same sentence. Writing 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 a Premier League trophy, and Shelvey was resigned to a seventh-placed finish with Liverpool.