Source: Daily_Mail
Alex Ferguson accepts five-match ban
Sir Alex Ferguson's five-match ban will kick in with immediate effect after the Manchester United boss accepted his FA punishment.[LNB]United have confirmed to the FA that there would be no appeal and requested a quick start to the sanction.[LNB]That means Ferguson will sit in the stands for the Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton on Saturday, followed by the matches with West Ham, Fulham, Manchester City in the FA Cup and Everton. His first match back is due to be the league meeting with title rivals Arsenal at the Emirates on May 1.[LNB] Anger management: Sir Alex Ferguson was furious after the defeat at rivals Chelsea[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]An FA statement read: 'The FA can confirm that Manchester United will not be appealing Sir Alex Ferguson's five game touchline ban. Manchester United have also requested that the ban starts with immediate effect. This has been accepted by the FA.'[LNB]Ferguson's decision to accept his ban and ?30,000 fine comes after he hit out at his fate.[LNB]Ferguson learned of his punishment after a disciplinary hearing forcomments made about referee Martin Atkinson following Manchester United's 2-1defeat at Chelsea earlier this month. [LNB]'It is disappointing,' he said. 'It is the only industry where you can't tell the truth. But it is in the past now.' [LNB] Controversy: Ferguson felt David Luiz (right) was lucky not to be sent off[LNB]Ferguson requested a personal hearing tofight a charge of improper conduct, but a four-man commission in Birmingham found him guilty and issued a three-game suspension. That also triggered a suspended two-match ban from 2009, for questioning the fitness of referee Alan Wiley.[LNB]Ferguson's acceptance will come as vindication of the FA's decision to stand up to England's top manager having been widely condemned for being too lenient with him in the past. [LNB]He has been a serial critic of referees over the years. However, his most recent offences have been a watershed for FA action on comments in the media.[LNB]Until Ferguson received a two-match ban last season for branding Alan Wiley unfit, no manager had ever been suspended from the touchline for anything other than direct abuse of officials. [LNB]
