Sir Alex Ferguson has been banned for four matches two of which are suspended until the end of 2010-11 season, and fined 20,000 pounds ($33,150) by Football Association (FA) following the Alan Wiley ‘unfit’ comments. The suspended sanction will be automatically activated should Sir Alex be found guilty of a similar charge before the end of the 2010/11 season. It will be in addition to any sanction imposed for that offence.
Peter Griffiths QC, who chaired the commission, said:
“Each member of the commission recognised Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievements and stature within the game.
“Having said that, it was made clear to Sir Alex that with such stature comes increased responsibilities.
“The commission considered his admitted remarks, in the context in which they were made, were not just improper but were grossly improper and wholly inappropriate.
“He should never have said what he did say.”
Sir Alex will have to oversee affairs from the stands against Everton (home) and Portsmouth (away).
Fergie had issued a public apology to Wiley in the aftermath of his comments, but it was labelled “half-hearted” by Alan Leighton, the national secretary of Prospect, the union which represents referees.
The Gaffer however, was keen to stress that his comments were simply to highlight what he regarded to be a “serious and important issue in the game, namely that the fitness levels of referees must match the ever-increasing demands of the modern game, which I hope will now be properly addressed through the appropriate formal channels”.
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