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27th March 2018
04:46pm BST

"The tackle was so unnecessary at the time as we were leading 3-0 and cruising to comfortable victory, but at least the lad was big enough to hold up his hand and apologise," the Irish defender said.Bosvelt apparently offered an apology to Irwin both privately and via a fax sent from Feyenoord to Manchester United. Irwin was admirably unperturbed by the whole thing but the same can't be said for his manager. Fergie was sickened - and he didn't mince words. "A fucking disgrace," the Scot offered to his counterpart, Geert Meijer, in the dugout next to him.
Ferguson had been bristling following a series of unsavoury incidents during the game, including Gary Neville receiving a firm elbow to the face from Argentinian striker Julio Cruz.
Fergie's theory was that Meijer had instructed his players to go out and hurt United after a robust challenge from David Beckham in the clash at Old Trafford ended Giovanni van Bronckhorst's involvement.
But Fergie wasn't content with merely selecting a few choice words for the Feyenoord coach there. At full-time, as Bosvelt made his way towards the tunnel, the United boss confronted him."I spoke to Meijer and he referred to the first game at Old Trafford and the tackle that David Beckham made that meant Giovanni Van Bronckhorst was taken off," Fergie said. "But that is insane thinking, a very silly thing to say."
"You scumbag, you ratbag, you dirty bastard," he told him.Presumably shouting to his players, "don't swap shirts with those dirty bastards... This is insane."
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