Linesman John Flynn, who copped the wrath of Manchester United yesterday, is a RAF flight sergeant who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Flynn convinced referee Mike Jones that Rio Ferdinand had brought down Newcastle United's Hatem Ben Arfa when the United defender made what most observers thought was a clean challenge.

Ferguson questioned whether Flynn should be axed but the married father of two from Wiltshire is unlikely to be flustered by the United manager's comments.