FA silent on Fergie misconduct charge

ALEX FERGUSON’S latest improper conduct charge has been passed onto the FA’s disciplinary committee but the FA has taken the unusual step of refusing to say whether he has accepted it or not.

The FA have taken huge amounts of stick for charging Ferguson over complimentary comments he made about referee Howard Webb 48 hours before his side met Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 8. Having given Ferguson a five-match touchline ban for comments made about Martin Atkinson at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, the FA are aware they appear to be singling the United boss out at present. However, they made it clear to managers in October that any pre-match comments, positive or negative, would be interpreted as an attempt to influence an official.