FA accuse Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson of undermining Respect campaign

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been accused of showing a lack of respect towards the to the FA’s Respect campaign by the regulatory commission which was involved in the Scot’s recent disciplinary case.

The veteran boss received a five-match touchline ban and was fined £30,000 after making comments about referee Martin Atkinson after United’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea.

The United boss said he feared the worst when he heard that Atkinson was officiating the match and that he wanted a “fair” and a “strong” ref.

The Scot’s comments activated a suspended two-match ban for comments made last season questioning referee Alan Wiley’s fitness to officiate games.

Ferguson has not appealed the ban but the commission remain over his stance in the incident.

The commission referred to his previous disciplinary record, which included several misconduct charges.

They stated: “Although it was his entitlement to do so, he denied the present charge in the face of a strong, if not compelling, case against him.

“Although he denied any intention to question Mr Atkinson’s integrity, he should, at the very least, have realised the import of what he said.

“It follows that any credit to which Sir Alex may have been entitled by admitting the charge, and reduction in sanction, was lost.

“In addition, it follows from his denial of the charge that no clarification or retraction of any of his comments has been made by Sir Alex and no apology given to Mr Atkinson, even after the charge had been brought.”

The panel added: “The commission regarded this as a serious aggravating feature and rejected Sir Alex’s case that his use of the word ‘fair’ was effectively retracted during the interview itself.

“The commission also took the view that Sir Alex’s comments undermined the attempts by the association, through its Respect campaign to encourage higher standards of behaviour within the game, including respect for officials.”