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FA Cup's day of rage: Man U, Chelsea and QPR call for calm
With previous fixtures overshadowed by alleged racism, two Saturday games are causing concern
A DAY after Alex Ferguson made an appeal for calm from supporters during this weekend's FA Cup meeting between Manchester United and Liverpool, Chelsea and QPR have also asked for their fans to show restraint.
It's the first time Manchester United will play bitter rivals Liverpool since an October Premier League fixture was overshadowed by allegations that Liverpool's Luis Suarez racially abused his opponent Patrice Evra. Suarez is serving an eight-match ban for his behaviour towards Evra and will miss Saturday's fourth round tie.
As the Daily Mail reports, the possibility of crowd trouble at the match has led Alex Ferguson to write a letter to those United fans holding tickets for Saturday's game, asking them to be on their best behaviour and give "the sort of support you are famous for - positive, witty and loud".
Fergie will also find his own behaviour under scrutiny during the match. Heaping more pressure onto an already explosive fixture, Saturday will be the first time referee Martin Atkinson will marshal a United game since Sir Alex received a five-match ban for questioning the official's integrity 11 months ago.
Meanwhile, down south, Chelsea and QPR will meet for the first time since their last match was sullied by allegations of racial slurs. John Terry has since been formally charged with racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand, something he denies, and is due in West London Magistrate's Court next week.
The two teams have issued a joint statement, warning fans that "abuse and discrimination have no place in football or society". The management of both teams are said to want the two players to shake hands before kick-off although, according to Goal.com, Ferdinand is reluctant to do so.
Both matches have been given early kick-offs on police advice. ·
