MANCHESTER, England -- Alex Ferguson wants the Football Association to show more respect to Manchester United because the Premier League champion provides the England national team with so many players.
As many as eight United players could be picked for next month's European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales. Ferguson said Friday that should inspire gratitude in the ruling body.
Without citing a particular incident, Ferguson cursed as he lambasted the FA for the way it has treated his team.
"We are pleased for the players because they deserve to be there. They are outstanding," Ferguson said. "The FA may one day realize who has produced more players for their country than any other club in the world.
"Maybe they will get some joy from it at some point in their lives and realize how important we are to England."
David Beckham, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney are among the recent United players to represent England. They have not played as well for England as they have at the club level, with England's only performances of note since winning the 1966 World Cup coming with runs to the semifinals of the 1990 World Cup and 1996 European Championship.
Ferguson did not say what he was unhappy about, although he was banned from the sideline for five matches last season for questioning the impartiality of a referee. He was also displeased when Rooney was banned for two matches after swearing into a TV camera while celebrating.
But the FA has not always been harsh toward United. The association allowed defending champion United to sit out the 1999-2000 FA Cup so it could take part in the FIFA Club World Cup in Brazil. Many commentators accused the move of permanently damaging the prestige of the world soccer's oldest cup competition.
By The Associated Press
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