Ferguson grateful for UEFA reprieve

Sir Alex Ferguson can plan for the final exchanges in the Premiership title campaign safe in the knowledge that when Manchester United go hunting for European glory next season he will be directing operations from the touchline rather than the stands.

The United manager had been extremely concerned that his remarks suggesting the Champions League draw had been fixed would land him a touchline ban from UEFA, but he escaped with a £4,500 fine (€6,600) yesterday after making a humble apology.