Fergie decides against appeal

United boss was sent to stands during defeat to Bolton

By James Dall   Last updated: 30th November 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fergie decides against appeal

Ferguson: Upset at refereeing standards

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will not appeal against his FA misconduct charge after being sent to the stands in the defeat to Bolton last weekend.

Ferguson was charged with using abusive and/or insulting words towards an official, after an exchange with referee Mark Clattenburg during the 1-0 defeat to Bolton.

The United manager was upset that Clattenburg failed to protect his players against what he claimed were 'aggressive' tactics from Gary Megson's side, with Kevin Davies in particular irritating the Scot for his running duel with full-back Patrice Evra.

Ferguson confirmed he will not challenge his dismissal, while hitting out at refereeing standards.

"We will just accept it," he said.

Standards are slipping

"At the summer conference, [referees' chief] Keith Hackett was on about tackling from behind.

"He made a promise to the managers that tackles with raised feet off the ground would be a red card and that tackles from the back would be a red card.

"Standards must be slipping because there have been some bad tackles recently, not just in our games but in quite a few others.

"And what happens then is that if someone gets seriously injured? Who gets the blame? The referee gets the blame."

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