Ferguson and Queiroz in the clear as FA drop ref case

Soho Square chiefs decided yesterday they could not appeal against the independent Regulatory Commission, which last month found the charges against the Manchester United boss and his No 2 were not proven.

Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson (right) with assistant Carlos Queiroz.

And after failing to make a charge stick, even though Fergie questioned the role of refs' chief Keith Hackett and match official Martin Atkinson, they will now look at tightening up the rules.

An FA spokesman said: 'After careful consideration, including external legal advice, we have decided that an appeal would be unlikely to succeed given the limited basis on which appeals are allowed. An appeal would therefore not be the right course of action.

'We remain surprised and disappointed at the original decision and we want to reiterate our support for Keith Hackett, Martin Atkinson and referees collectively.

'Keith Hackett has an important job to do in managing the select group of referees and we fully support his work. Martin Atkinson and the other select group referees also have our full backing for the excellent job they do.

'We remain firmly of the view that the comments made by Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz were inappropriate. We wish to discourage such comments being made as they are not in the best interests of football.'

The only grounds for an appeal is for the FA to demonstrate that the original decision was one that 'no reasonable body could have come to'.

Ferguson blasted Hackett after he felt his side had been denied a blatant penalty during the 1-0 defeat against Portsmouth. 'It's absolutely ridiculous,' ranted Ferguson. 'He (Hackett) is not doing his job properly and he needs to be assessed.'

Queiroz was also furious, branding Hackett 'a disgrace' who had deserved to be 'given a red card'.