Alex Ferguson asks FA for hearing over charge

Published on 02/02/2013 02:02

Sir Alex Ferguson has denied his Football Association misconduct charge and requested a hearing.

The Manchester United manager criticised assistant referee Simon Beck following his side’s draw at Tottenham a fortnight ago. The Football Association has yet to decide on a date for the hearing.

The FA said last night: “Sir Alex Ferguson has denied an FA charge of misconduct in relation to post-match media comments. It is alleged [he] breached FA Rule E3 in that he implied that the match official was motivated by bias. [He] has requested a paper hearing, the date of which will be set in due course.”

Speaking after the Tottenham game, Ferguson expressed his anger at United not being given a penalty for a foul on Wayne Rooney. “It was a clear decision. And he [Beck]… doesn’t give it. And yet he gave everything else.” Ferguson claimed United had “history” with Beck following the official’s failure to rule out a Didier Drogba goal for offside at Old Trafford in 2010. “There was no way we were going to get a decision from [Beck],” Ferguson said.

Clearly, the United manager’s argument is that he should be allowed to criticise Beck, even though the likely punishment if the case is proved is only likely to be a fine.

Last week, Ferguson said he suspected the matter had become personal. “The profile of me is such that the FA panic as soon as the press criticise them. I just think it is more about me than what I have said,” he said.