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LONDON: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has been handed a five-match touchline ban by the Football Association after being found guilty of improper conduct.
Ferguson was charged after criticizing match official Martin Atkinson's performance in United's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League on March 1, saying his team didn't get a ''fair or strong referee.''
Ferguson appealed but the FA said Wednesday that an Independent Regulatory Commission ''found the charge of improper conduct relating to media comments proven.'' He was also fined 30,000 pounds ($48,000).
The outburst earned him a three-game ban and two matches were added because of a previous suspended sentence hanging over Ferguson. The suspension starts on Tuesday.
