Source: Eurosport
Ferguson set to escape action over latest ref rant
LONDON (AFP) - Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to avoid any disciplinary action after slamming the performance of referee Martin Atkinson during Manchester United's 1-0 loss to Premier League title rivals Chelsea.[LNB]Ferguson was furious with Atkinson for awarding the 76th minute free-kick that led to Chelsea's winner, scored by John Terry, at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.[LNB]"The referee's position to make the decision was absolutely ridiculous, he can't see anything," Ferguson said. He's got a Chelsea player (Joe Cole) standing right in front of him and he doesn't even move.[LNB]"That goal shoudn't have been allowed. It was a bad decision, but there's nothing we can do about it. You lose faith in refereeing sometimes, that's the way the players are talking in there. It was a bad one."[LNB]However, it is understood the Football Association (FA) will not take action against Ferguson as he did not suggest Atkinson was biased or question the referee's integrity.[LNB]English champions United are now five points behind league leaders Chelsea.[LNB]Ferguson was charged last month with improper conduct by the FA for publicly labelling referee Alan Wiley "unfit" after United's 2-2 draw with Sunderland.[LNB]The 67-year-old Scottish manager later apologised by saying: "I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment my comments may have caused and to the FA for going public with my views.[LNB]"In retrospect I accept that they could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate form."[LNB]Officials have yet to decide what action, if any, to take regarding Ferguson's comments about Wiley.
