Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Fine line for Ferguson
SIR Alex Ferguson looks likely to avoid a touchline ban when the FA doles out its punishment for his "unfit" comments about referee Alan Wiley.
The FA have charged the United boss with improper conduct following his now infamous rant earlier this month.
Fergie has two weeks to lodge an appeal or request a personal hearing but the likelihood of him escaping a ban will be seen a real boost ahead of the Reds' Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday afternoon.
A touchline ban for after-match comments would be unprecedented and, therefore according to FA insiders, it is most likely Fergie will instead be hit with a hefty fine and warned about his future conduct if he fails in any appeal. The United boss has already back-tracked by apologising on three separate occasions to Wiley.
Fergie made his comments following United's controversial 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford.
He accused Wiley of not being "fit enough for a game of that standard" and accused him of "walking up the pitch for the second goal needing a rest".
The incident led to the head of the referees' union to demand Fergie be banned.
Alan Leighton, head of officials' union Prospect, said the resultant apology was "half-hearted".
Leighton said: "A punishment should be a UEFA-type coaching ban, which is more than a touchline ban."
