A charge of improper conduct by the Football Association against Sir Alex Ferguson has led to indignation and preparation for an appeal that is against legal advice. The charge is for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson, following a defeat at Chelsea and by appealing the charge he risks a four-match ban.
Just his indignation means he is going to declare innocence of the charge and this is clear in his actions not to appear in public to even discuss his team’s next game at Liverpool tomorrow. At a meeting at United’s training base, he rejected legal advice given to him yesterday.
Last season’s two-match ban for calling out referee Alan Wiley’s fitness would take immediate effect if he admits to guilt of this current charge that he has until Tuesday night to respond to.
A one-game ban for challenging the incident and an additional one for the incident with Atkinson could be assessed if his appeal is declared frivolous and Sir Alex’s defense is still unknown but may be the appearance of immediately backtracking from his comments. All this is mute until we know if he is to appeal of not by Tuesday.