Fergie escapes ban for referee criticism

ALEX FERGUSON will not face any disciplinary action over his remarks criticising referee Mark Clattenburg for sending off Darren Fletcher, the FA have confirmed.

The Manchester United midfielder was given his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards against Birmingham on Saturday.

Afterwards Ferguson appeared to imply that Clattenburg had been inconsistent this season but the FA decided his remarks did not cross the boundary to allege bias or impute the official’s integrity.

An FA spokesman confirmed: “No action will be taken in relation to Sir Alex Ferguson.”

After Fletcher’s red card at Birmingham, Ferguson said he had been “watching Mark Clattenburg this season”.

Fletcher has spoken of his frustration at his sending off at Birmingham.

“Saturday was disappointing because I was constantly being fouled and when I said something the ref said to me it is a man’s game. So I went in hard and he books me! Then he booked me again for nothing really.

“You don’t want to miss games for any reason and to miss one for suspension disrupts things for me.

“We have enough midfielders so I am sure someone will come in and do a good job. But someone coming in and doing well could mean I can’t get back into the side and that is the risk. But I cannot afford to think of that when I play. I play every game for the moment and I don’t look too far forward.”

He added: “We needed to get stuck in against Birmingham and battle and that is what I did. I didn’t concern myself with any possible consequences.

“I am not a dirty player by any stretch of the imagination. I go in for the ball and sometimes I might mistime it make a foul.

“But I am not a dirty player.’’

Ferguson, meanwhile, says the Premier League needs to fall in line with the other major European leagues and adopt a winter break in January.

Speaking from United’s training camp in Doha, Ferguson said players struggle to play three games in eight days as the pitches get heavier in winter and are also unable to get over any small injuries.

The 68-year-old Scot says a “break in January would be ideal’’ as “even the coaches need a mental break’.’

He suggested matches be played throughout May to allow a break, arguing players are often used to competing in June on international duty.

It has also emerged that United could be lining up Sebastien Frey as a replacement for goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. The claim was made by the player’s agent.

The Fiorentina shot stopper is on Ferguson’s shortlist to take over from current first choice Van der Sar.

The United boss will offer his Dutch keeper a new one-year deal, but it is unclear whether the veteran will sign after his wife fell seriously ill just before Christmas.

And it is claimed United are eyeing a move for 29-year-old Frey if Van der Sar decides to call time on his career.

“I cannot deny Frey is on United’s shopping list,’’ said agent Giovanni Branchini.

“But we will have to wait until the end of the season to see what will happen.

“Fiorentina are not willing to negotiate before May so we will have to agree with them.

“Seba is having a great season and the Viola are his main concern at the moment. So no problem at all, then in the summer we will talk.’’