No action against Ferguson

Alex Ferguson has escaped action from the Football Association after his half-time altercation with referee Steve Bennett as Manchester United lost 3-1 at Manchester City on Saturday.

Ferguson let fly with a verbal tirade at Bennett as he lashed out at the Orpington official’s handling of the Manchester derby.

The United boss was particularly annoyed by Stephen Jordan’s tackle on Wayne Rooney, which saw the City man rake his studs down the striker’s shin, which went unpunished.

United have also put in a claim for wrongful dismissal following Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card for a lunge at City striker Andy Cole. The FA will hear the appeal at a disciplinary commission today.

However, Bennett did not include any mention of misconduct from either Ferguson or any details of Rooney allegedly kicking a dressing-room door in his report to Soho Square, and as such, the matter is now considered closed.