Fergie chides Jason Roberts over shirt boycott plan

Roberts claimed that the anti-discrimination body hadn’t done enough to combat racism, particularly in light of recent racism rows involving Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Chelsea’s John Terry, as well as the disturbances seen at last Tuesday’s U21 match involving England and Serbia.

However Ferguson suggesting the Reading striker was misguided in his stance at his pre-match press conference before tomorrow’s clash with Stoke at Old Trafford. “I have to disagree with Jason Roberts. I think he is making the wrong point,” said Ferguson.

“Everyone should be united, with all the players in the country wearing the Kick It Out warm-up tops.”

Ferguson added: “I don’t know what point he is trying to make. I don’t know if he is trying to put himself on a different pedestal from everyone. But he really should be supporting all the rest of the players who are doing it.

“When you do something, and everyone believes in it, you should all do it together. There shouldn’t be sheep wandering off. I think he is making the wrong message. All the players are wearing it. I have only heard that Jason Roberts is different, but he is very different. He plays a game and is in the studio 20 minutes after it. That is a great privilege.”

Roberts had said: “I find it hard to wear a T-shirt after what has happened in the last year. I won’t wear one. I’m totally committed to kicking racism out of football, but when there’s a movement I feel represents the issue in the way that speaks for me and my colleagues, then I will happily support it.

“I think people feel let down by what used to be called ‘Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football.’ People don’t feel like they have been strong enough.”