Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed referee Lee Mason is now under extreme pressure following Wayne Rooney's ban for swearing.
Mason was in charge for Manchester United's 4-2 win away to West Ham in which a Rooney hat-trick overhauled a two-goal deficit.
Rooney swore aggressively at a TV camera upon celebrating his third goal, leading to a two-game ban for abusive language from the Football Association.
The England striker lost an appeal to have the punishment reduced, but boss Ferguson believes his squad can use the saga as a 'plus'.
"If he doesn't send a player off for swearing the question will be, has he got double standards?"
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson also switched the attention to Mason, who he believes is now under immense pressure to consistently punish players for foul and abusive language.
"It will bring us together. It is a plus for us. But the one I feel sorry for is Lee Mason. He has put himself in a terrible position," said the Scot.
"He has been put under pressure. There is no doubt about that. It is hard to imagine the referee would send a player off for scoring a hat-trick.
"But he has now put himself in the spotlight. If he doesn't send a player off for swearing the question will be, has he got double standards?
"It is a very difficult position the lad is in. I feel for him. I really do. I don't know where his career is going to go now.
"I think he was put under pressure."
Swipe
Meanwhile, Ferguson hit back at claims from Police Superintendent Mark Payne, who used his online policing blog to condemn Rooney's actions.
Payne, responsible for managing responses to crime and operations in Wolverhampton, wrote: "If Rooney had behaved like that in Wolverhampton on Saturday night, I would have expected my officers to lock him up.
"People in positions of influence have an obligation to behave like human beings. It is not a lot to ask."
Ferguson, though, laughed off the swipe, accusing Payne drawing intentionally attention to himself.
"Everyone has an opinion today," he said. "There is an issue in the modern world of a need to be noticed.
"There is a wee guy, sitting down there in the Midlands, probably never been recognised in his life, managed to elevate himself to whatever it is in the police force.
"Have you ever seen Wolverhampton on a Saturday night? Do police ever arrest anyone for swearing on a Saturday night? Dearie me. That is a good one."
Following Rooney's appeal, Ferguson admits he was not surprised to see the FA uphold their stance on the matter.
"We put an appeal in," he said. "The lad has apologised for swearing but I don't think we expected to get a result."
Never mess with Fergie, he knows more about Wolverhamptons nightlife than the Police chief
? He's either completely missed the point due to being obtuse or stupid, not excellent? Lee Mason didn't send Rooney off, what is Ferguson even ranting about :s?