TWO MATCH BAN

Last updated : 21 October 2003 By editor

Sir Alex was not happy.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will decide tomorrow whether to appeal against a two-match touchline ban imposed for abusing match officials.

The Old Trafford boss was given the ban and fined £10,000 by the Football Association after being found guilty of two charges, one of improper conduct and one of insulting or abusing match officials

Clearly angry, the manager left the four-hour hearing complaining that the FA had not taken into account his previously unblemished disciplinary record, having never faced a misconduct charge during his 17 years at Old Trafford.

When Maurice Watkins, the club's solicitor, emerged to tell reporters he believed the FA had considered Ferguson's record, the manager butted in: "Did they? Are you sure?" Watkins said: "Well, they said they did, anyway."

Maurice Watkins said:

"It is fair to say that Sir Alex is a little disappointed with the outcome. We are going to reflect on it overnight and decide what we are going to do. It could end here and will only continue if there is an appeal. It is never right to make a snap decision after a long day. We will decide overnight. We had the full opportunity to explain our position. Obviously there was a difference of views. We were left with verdict as it is."