Zebu hero of the week: Alex Ferguson

When people unexpectedly tell the truth or cut through the bullshit, we should celebrate it. Zebu Hero of the Week certainly won’t be Tony McNulty, whose House of Commons “apology” for misclaiming £13,000 on expenses was staggeringly grudging.

“I regret that I did not recognise that a more formal arrangement would have been wise and preferable so as to avoid the risk of an appearance of benefit, and I apologise for that.” – Tony McNulty

It won’t be Chancellor Alistair Darling either, even though he admitted this week that the aim of the supposedly “green” hike in Air Passenger Duty was actually to raise revenue rather than help combat global warming.

So let’s raise a glass instead to Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, who admitted that the referee was right to send off his captain, Gary Neville, for an over-aggressive tackle in a match against Burnley.

“In the present climate the referee was probably correct. We won’t appeal.” – Sir Alex Ferguson

Okay, so it’s hardly a pat on the back for the ref and an offer to pop over for dinner but, given the usual attitude of football managers to anyone daring to tick off their overpaid darlings, it’s unusual enough to make Alex Ferguson our Zebu Hero of the Week.

Whether we can find one each week, of course, is another matter.