Furious Ferguson to face FA probe

THE FA’s disciplinary committee will meet today to determine whether Alex Ferguson should be charged with improper conduct for his astonishing rant at referee Alan Wiley.

Ferguson savaged Wiley’s decision not to add more injury time to the four allocated at Old Trafford on Saturday – an ironic complaint, given the controversy that followed United’s late winner against Manchester City two weeks ago – and then attacked the official’s fitness.

“I was disappointed the referee didn’t add any time on for the goal scored,” he said. “He was walking up the pitch after that second goal, needing a rest. He wasn’t fit enough for the game. The standard and the pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit and he wasn’t fit.

“It’s an indictment on our game. You see referees from abroad and they’re as fit as butcher’s dogs and there are referees in this country who are fit but he wasn’t fit. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player, taking a rest and writing down names on his card.”

It is the comments regarding Wiley’s physical condition which are likely to draw the FA’s attention. Premier League referees are subjected to regular fitness tests by their controlling body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited, and are demoted if they fail to meet the required standards.