Talkative former referee Dermot Gallagher has spoken of how Ferguson tried to get a match called off in 1997 to aid Manchester United's title bid. During a rain-soaked encounter with Middlesborough towards the end of the 1996/97 season, Ferguson went up to Gallagher and whispered "Do me a favour and call the game off"
According to Gallagher, Ferguson explained that he wanted the game called off because “there’s nowhere else to fit this game in and the Premier League will have to extend the season. We’ll have a better chance of winning the match and we’ll win the league at Old Trafford.” At half time, United were 3-1 down, Fergie sidled up to Gallagher as they were leaving and asked him to call it off, reportedly saying "we could do with a hand here." United pulled it back to 3-3 and were chasing the winner when Gallagher blew up. Ferguson ran across the pitch and asked him was "he going out to dinner tonight?" When Gallagher replied "No", Ferguson responded "Why are we leaving so early then?"
Gallagher also detailed the anxiety of giving decisions against United at Old Trafford. One referee was fitted with a heart monitor before a game at Old Trafford.
'Years and years ago one of the referees had a heart monitor on during a match at Old Trafford, They were assessing it and suddenly it jumped and went through the roof. They looked at the DVD and he’d just turned down a penalty in front of the Stretford End. The pressure is immense.'
