Fergie wants rule changes

United chief wants extra punishment permitted

Last updated: 28th September 2008

Emanuel Pogatetz Rodrigo Possebon Manchester United Middlesbrough Carling Cup

Pogatetz challenge on Rodrigo

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Sir Alex Ferguson hopes the Football Association will change their rules to allow extra punishment to be handed out to players red-carded for serious foul play.

Ferguson fumed as Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz lunged recklessly at his midfielder Rodrigo Possebon, a challenge for which he was red-carded.

Pogatetz's challenge came off the back of a similar incident which saw Danny Guthrie of Newcastle dismissed for his challenge on Hull's Craig Fagan.

In both cases there were calls for Pogatetz and Guthrie to have their automatic three-match bans extended - but that is not within the rules laid out by the FA.

But Ferguson wants things changing so that in retrospect, players could be banned for longer than just three-matches.

The Manchester United boss has confirmed that he has taken up with the issue with PFA chief Gordon Taylor and hopes the FA consider change the rule at the end of the season.

"I said to Gordon Taylor of the PFA that I don't think the suspensions are strong enough," he said.

"The FA should consider it at the end of the season and act on it.

"But I don't like doing things in the middle of the season because it looks like a knee-jerk reaction."