The Guardian’s Alan Biggs on the latest firestorm surrounding calm, cuddly Neil Warnock.
Neil Warnock will argue against a possible FA charge after it emerged last night that he had been reported by the referee Paul Taylor after Sheffield United’s defeat at Norwich on Saturday.
The Sheffield United manager is in the dock for aiming a provocative hand gesture at the Norwich manager Nigel Worthington on the touchline after the final whistle. The United manager does not deny making the gesture but insists he expects to be cleared on the ground that he was provoked by Worthington’s refusal to shake his hand.
Warnock will present video evidence if necessary, convinced that it shows his opposite number was equally to blame for the petulant exchange. “I went over to shake his hand and he totally ignored me,” said Warnock. “Television pictures show that I left my hand out and it must have been for six or seven seconds. So I then turned round, put my fingers up and walked away.”
Warnock is adamant that his reproach for Worthington, who having made 334 league appearances for Sheffield Wednesday has never been popular with Blades fans, could not be interpreted as a gesture likely to incite crowd trouble.
“I was disappointed with a total lack of respect from their bench, no other reason,” he added. “If anybody was upset it should have been me after losing 2-1.”