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Journalism of Courage
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been charged by the Football Association (FA) after letting fly at referee Mark Clattenburg during the Red Devils’ 1-0 Premier League defeat away to Bolton.
Ferguson has until December 11 to answer the charge of “using abusive and insulting words towards an official” during last weekend’s match. If found guilty, he faces a fine and the possibility of a touchline ban.
The Scot, seen jabbing his finger at the official, was sent to the stands by Clattenburg after a half-time rant where Ferguson, in his own words, told the referee “exactly what he thought of him”.
FA officials decided to act after Clattenburg included his version of events in his match report, which disciplinary chiefs examined yesterday. Ferguson, who has praised Clattenburg in the past, was unhappy with the way in which he dealt with the “over-aggressive” tactics of a Bolton side for whom a win left them just a point above the relegation zone.
“You can expect a team in Bolton’s position to play that way. You expect a team near the bottom to battle, scrap and fight,” he said yesterday.
Ferguson had received a two-match touchline ban and a £10,000 fine in 2003.
