Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson charged with misconduct by FA

Sir Alex Ferguson's relationship with the FA reached a new low on Tuesday when he was charged with misconduct for his criticism of a linesman after Manchester United's draw at Tottenham.

United manager Ferguson was scathing of assistant referee Simon Beck after the official failed to award his team a penalty at White Hart Lane.


But it is Ferguson's suggestion that Beck had previously failed his team during a game at Old Trafford in 2010 - in failing to raise his flag when Chelsea's Didier Drogba scored from an offside position - that the FA have interpreted as a suggestion that the official was biased.

'That linesman never gave us a thing all day,' said Ferguson after the 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.

'For me, it was a poor performance by him.We remember him well from his time at the Chelsea game when Didier Drogba was three yards offside and he gave onside.'

An FA statement said: 'The FA has today charged Sir Alex Ferguson in relation to post-match media comments made following Manchester United's game at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 20 January 2013.

'It is alleged the Manchester United manager breached FA Rule E3 in that he implied that the match official was motivated by bias.' 

Ferguson has until 4pm on Friday to respond to the charge. He can request a personal hearing or accept a punishment, likely to be a fine.