Ferguson and Carlos facing FA rap - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Ferguson and Carlos facing FA rap

Sir Alex Ferguson and his assistant Carlos Queiroz are likely to face FA charges following scathing criticism of referee Martin Atkinson.

Ferguson implied that Atkinson should be dropped and also laid into referees' chief Keith Hackett. The remark the FA are likely to view most gravely is the suggestion that Atkinson was biased towards Portsmouth, which is a chargeable offence. Ferguson said during an MUTV onslaught that Pompey 'had great confidence to hang on knowing the referee was on their side'.

Queiroz told the BBC: "The referee is a disgrace. He didn't do his job. We did our job, Portsmouth did their job, but the referee didn't do his. Sadly, we still have referees who don't understand what is the right thing in the game and who they should be protecting."

Referees may feel that the FA's support for them would lose all credibility if the Manchester United management team escape punishment.

Atkinson must wait to discover if he will suffer for failing to award United a clear-looking penalty. The rest of his performance is unlikely to be questioned.

Comments

Don't Miss
Rock star: Erin Wasson

Rock star

Erin Wasson is the ultimate anti-supermodel
Maybe it’s because she’s a Londoner … Happy anniversary, Ma’am

Happy anniversary

The monarchy has become stronger and more respected in the past 60 years
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity