Ferguson handed ban from touchline

LONDON, England -- Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been handed a two-match touchline ban and a $10,000 fine by the English Football Association.

Ferguson declined to fight a misconduct charge brought by the FA over his use of 'insulting words' to referee Mark Clattenburg following the half-time whistle at United's recent 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bolton.

Clattenburg sent Ferguson to the stands for the second period following the United manager's finger-jabbing rant and with a 14-day notice period, the Scot will not be present in the dug-out for the trip to West Ham on December 29 or the home encounter with Birmingham on New Year's Day, 24 hours after his 66th birthday.

An FA statement said: "At a commission hearing, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was given a two-match touchline ban, starting on Friday December 28.

"Ferguson admitted a charge of using abusive and/or insulting words towards referee Mark Clattenburg at half-time of United's game against Bolton on Saturday November 24.

"As he did not request a personal hearing, the case was dealt with on the basis of written statements and video footage."

The United manager, whose last major altercation with officialdom was at Newcastle four years ago when he was also banned for two games but fined $20,000 for a stinging attack on referee Jeff Winter, was deeply unhappy at Clattenburg's failure to stamp out Bolton's 'over-aggressive' tactics.

One tackle by Kevin Davies on Patrice Evra particularly incensed the Ferguson, who approached Clattenburg as he was about to enter the tunnel 'to tell him exactly what I thought'.

"Some people don't like the truth," added the Scot. "You expect a team in Bolton's position to battle, scrap and fight. But the key thing is how the referee controls it. That is where we feel a bit aggrieved." E-mail to a friend