Ferguson hit with two-match suspension

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson will serve a touchline ban in his side’s matches at home to Everton and away at Portsmouth after being punished for his comments about referee Alan Wiley.

The Scot’s punishment – which also includes a further two-match ban suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season and a £20,000 (€22,300) fine – was imposed after he claimed the official was “just wasn’t fit enough” to take charge of United’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland last month.

Ferguson admitted a charge of improper conduct relating to his comments.