By JOHN BOSCHINI
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been handed a five-match ban by the English FA
following critical comments of a referee earlier this month.
The Scottish manager blasted match official Martin Atkinson following United's 2-1 defeat to
Chelsea on March 1.
As a follow-up to my recent post this week about the disappointing behavior from Manchester United
manager Sir Alex Ferguson, BBC Sport announces that a Football Association tribunal has given Sir
Alex Ferguson a five-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson.
The Manchester United manager was found guilty of improper conduct for criticising Atkinson's
display in the loss at Chelsea earlier this month.
The FA threw the book at Sir Alex Ferguson today, banning the Man United manager for FIVE
matches for his criticism of referee Martin Atkinson after his side's defeat to Chelsea earlier
this month.
Ferguson was handed a three-match touchline ban, with the extra two games triggered from his
suspended punishment for criticising Alan Wiley last season.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been given a 5 match ban for his comments about Martin Atkinson at the end
of our 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
For the second year running against Chelsea, Atkinson made crucial mistakes which changed the
outcome of the game. John Terry blocked an on target Nani shot with his arm whilst David Luiz
managed to stay on the pitch after committing three yellow card offences, one of which a deliberate
trip on Rooney off the ball as he was running in to the box.
Things are generally never quiet around Old Trafford and the last couple of days have been no
different. Since the defeat against Chelsea the fallout continues to rain down in the media with
Sir Alex Ferguson's comments after the game attracting most attention.
After the loss Sir Alex said "You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway and we didn't
get that.
ALEX FERGUSON faces 'trial by TV' after the FA demanded to see film footage of his Stamford Bridge
rant against referee Martin Atkinson.
And the refs' union also demanded the Manchester United boss apologise publicly or come clean on
why he thinks Atkinson is incompetent.
