Decision time for Ferguson

SIR Alex Ferguson must decide by Monday evening whether to challenge the five–game touchline ban and £30,000 fine slapped down by the Football Association.

The strict penalty has been greeted with surprise across the game, although the FA's disciplinary panel has clearly decided they will not tolerate after further transgressions from Ferguson.

With a two–match ban now invoked as part of a punishment that was suspended last season for comments about Alan Wiley's fitness, the United boss has to work out whether to contest this punishment or accept his fate, knowing it will condemn him to the stands for the entire month of April, a period that includes the FA Cup semi–final with Manchester City.

"The (Independent Regulatory) Commission found the charge of Improper Conduct relating to media comments proven, following remarks made in relation to match official Martin Atkinson in post–match interviews after Manchester United's fixture with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday March 1, 2011," read an official FA statement.

"Furthermore the Commission invoked a two match suspended touchline ban, relating to a previous charge of Improper Conduct in relation to media comments made in October 2009."

Ferguson's comments came in the aftermath of a 2–1 defeat at Stamford Bridge in which he was convinced David Luiz should have been sent off.

"You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway – and we didn't get that," he said to United's in–house TV station MUTV.

"I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst."