United pair cleared of charge
28 May 2008 - 17:31:01
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and number two Carlos Queiroz have been cleared of an improper conduct charge by the Football Association.
The charge related to the pair's furious reaction to United's 1-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Portsmouth at Old Trafford back in March.
Referee Martin Atkinson sent off goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak before awarding the visitors a decisive penalty and afterwards Ferguson delivered a stinging rebuke of his performance and also that of chief referee Keith Hackett.
Queiroz also waded into the issue after offering critical comments about Atkinson following the final whistle.
Ferguson, who felt his side should have had their own penalty, fumed: "I'm assessed as a manager, players are assessed, referees should be assessed properly by the right people.
"That performance today should not be accepted by our game."
However a regulatory commission hearing ruled the pair should be found not guilty of the conduct charge.
"At an independent regulatory commission hearing today, charges against Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant manager Carlos Queiroz were found not proved," read an FA statement.
