Fergie suspended for two games
Friday, 14 December 2007 19:25Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has been handed a two-match touchline ban and a £5,000 fine by the Football Association.
Ferguson declined to fight a misconduct charge brought by the FA over his use of 'insulting words' to referee Mark Clattenburg following the half-time whistle at United's recent Barclays Premier League encounter with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.
Clattenburg sent Ferguson to the stands for the second period following the United manager's finger-jabbing rant and with a 14-day notice period, the Scot will not be present in the Red Devils dug-out for the trip to West Ham on 29 December or the home encounter with Birmingham City on New Year's Day, 24 hours after he celebrates his 66th birthday.
The United manager, whose last major altercation with officialdom was at St James' Park four years ago when he was also banned for two games but fined £10,000 for a stinging attack on Jeff Winter, was deeply unhappy at Clattenburg's failure to stamp out Bolton's 'over-aggressive' tactics.
One tackle by Kevin Davies on Patrice Evra particularly incensed the Scot, who approached Clattenburg as he was about to enter the tunnel 'to tell him exactly what I thought'.
'Some people don't like the truth,' added the Scot.
'You expect a team in Bolton's position to battle, scrap and fight. But the key thing is how the referee controls it. That is where we feel a bit aggrieved.'
