Manchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson Screams at Officials, Loses Gum (Video)

Have you ever been so furious that you just couldn't keep your gum in your mouth? Sir Alex Ferguson can relate.

Ferguson's Manchester United defeated Newcastle United 4-3 on Wednesday in an exciting Boxing Day match that sent the Red Devils seven points clear atop the English Premier League table.

It wasn't all goals and glory for Ferguson and his men. Three times United trailed the visitors from Newcastle, and one of the Magpies' goals was scored by United defender Jonny Evans.

But even that wasn't what raised Ferguson's hackles. What irked the prickly Scot was referee Mike Dean's decision to overrule his linesman and award the goal despite Newcastle's Papiss Cissé being in an offside position.

In real time, the goal was disallowed because of the linesman's flag. Moments later, however, Dean changed the call, ruled that Cissé had not affected Evans in the scoring of the own and award the tally to Newcastle.

At that, Fergie became furious.

The 70-year-old Scot launched a series of remonstrations that outlasted the first half and spilled over into halftime warmups. Along the way, he harassed the assistant referees along the touchline and confronted Dean himself. Somehow, inexplicably, Dean declined to report the incident and Ferguson's actions will go unpunished (via The Guardian).

After the match, Ferguson said this about the play (via Yahoo! Sports):

"

The linesman correctly whistled for offside because Cisse was in an offside position when the cross was made. He also pulled Jonny Evans' arm. If that's not interference, then what is? That was the point I was making to Mike Dean. He said it was an own goal, so it didn't matter that the player was offside. But when you see the video replay he is certainly interfering with the play.

"

That's one way of viewing it. We'll choose to view it another way—the way that appears above.

See, the thing about Fergie is that, when he's angry, he's a lot of fun to watch. Wednesday was no exception.

During one of his tirades, Fergie lost his gum while arguing angrily. Most would consider this embarrassing—being on live television around the world—but true to form, Ferguson merely continued to harangue the poor official.

Bravo, Sir Alex. You tell that gum (and those officials) what's up. Here at Set Piece, we're making this video—which appears above—our Video of the Day for this Thursday.

(h/t 101 Great Goals)

Follow @MikeCummings37