Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his on-field outburst at referee Mike Dean and launched into an astonishing tirade at Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, describing him as a manager of a 'wee club in the north east'.
The Football Association announced on Thursday that no action will be taken against the Manchester United manager. The Scot was furious after Dean overruled assistant Jake Collin and awarded Newcastle's second goal in the Red Devils' 4-3 win. Ferguson approached Dean prior to the second half, before rounding on fourth official Neil Swarbrick and Collin.
Pardew said that Dean will have been "slightly disappointed" he did not take action against Ferguson at the time. However, the Scot hit back at his critics. He said: "I was demonstrative but I was not out of order. The press have had a field day. The only person they have not spoken to is Barack Obama because he is busy."
Ferguson continued: "It is unfortunate but I am the manager of the most famous club in the world. Not Newcastle, a wee club in the north east.
"I was demonstrative. I am always demonstrative. Everyone knows that. I am an emotional guy. But I was not abusive. I shouted Mike over. We walked towards each other. I was only on (the pitch) three or four yards. That has been overplayed. The problem for me is that the profile of this club is huge.
"Alan Pardew has come out and criticised me. He is the worst at haranguing referees. He shoves them and makes a joke of it. How he can criticise me is unbelievable. He forgets the help I gave him, by the way."
Pardew was given a two-match touchline ban and fined £20,000 after accepting an FA charge of improper conduct for pushing an assistant referee earlier this season. He was sent off during the 2-1 win over Tottenham on August 18 at St James' Park when he pushed Peter Kirkup after claiming the ball had gone out of play during a Spurs attack.
Meanwhile, Ferguson could hand Shinji Kagawa a place on the substitutes' bench for Manchester United's Premier League encounter with West Brom.
The Japan international has been absent since injuring his knee in October but managed a solo training session at Old Trafford ahead of United's Boxing Day triumph over Newcastle and Ferguson is considering naming him in his squad for the West Brom game.
Wayne Rooney definitely misses out with a knee injury, but Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck could be fit after missing the Newcastle game.
Source: PA
