Ferguson faces Beck backlash

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was last night charged by the Football Association over his post-match comments he made regarding the performance of assistant referee Simon Beck at Tottenham earlier this month.

Ferguson submitted his observations about the case on Friday and now the FA have decided there is sufficient evidence to call the United boss to account.

“The FA has today charged Alex Ferguson in relation to post-match media comments made following Manchester United’s game at Tottenham Hotspur,” said an FA statement. “It is alleged the Manchester United manager breached FA Rule E3 in that he implied that the match official was motivated by bias.

“Ferguson has until 4pm on Friday to respond to the charge.”

Ferguson spoke out after the 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane, when United conceded an injury-time equaliser after Wayne Rooney’s penalty claim was rejected by referee Chris Foy.

However, it was assistant Beck who bore the brunt of Ferguson’s ire, with the Scot’s discontent with the linesman dating back to April 2010 when he failed to spot Didier Drogba was in an offside position as he scored a crucial goal for Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Ferguson’s more immediate focus is tonight’s home clash with Southampton and Ryan Giggs has insisted thoughts of Real Madrid will not be allowed to cloud their Premier League title assault.

It is now just a fortnight until United head to Spain for a summit meeting with Jose Mourinho and a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo to scrap it out for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

However, Giggs is acutely aware three key Premier League engagements must be navigated first, starting with tonight against the Saints.

And he knows the glamour of a night out at the Bernabeu must not be allowed to affect United’s focus.

“We’re not thinking about Madrid,” said Giggs. “Everyone was excited when the draw was made but you can’t look too far ahead.

“You want to perform in games like that and be in good form. That is what we intend to do and the best way of achieving that is to concentrate on the opponents immediately ahead.”