Sport 21-10-2003 Ferguson Banned From Touchline who: Sir Alex Ferguson what: Unlikely to appeal against FA touchline ban where: Old Trafford, MANCHESTER when: Yesterday snippet: "Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will decide today whether to appeal against a two-match touchline ban imposed on Ferguson for abusing match officials," reports The Indepednent. "The Old Trafford manager was given the ban and fined £10,000 by the Football Association after being found guilty of two charges, improper conduct and insulting or abusing match officials." "Fergie was called before the three-man disciplinary panel after calling fourth official Jeff Winter and referee Uriah Rennie a `f*****g cheat` and `f*****g joke`," says The Mirror`s David McDonnell. "If, as expected, United do not appeal Fergie will be banned from the touchline for Saturday`s Premiership clash with Fulham at Old Trafford and the Carling Cup tie with Leeds on October 29." "Although Ferguson chose not to speak after the hearing he seemed in good spirits as he stood and listened as United`s solicitor, Maurice Watkins, explained the club`s reaction," writes Sam Wallace in The Telegraph. "He even interrupted at one point to joke that the FA had not taken his previous good record into consideration." Meanwhile, the case against Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who admitted missing a drug test last month, drags on. The Guardian`s Daniel Taylor says the FA is "becoming increasingly impatient with the length of time it is taking to receive relevant documents such as Ferdinand`s mobile telephone records". And United`s lawyers are also due in court to apply for a gagging order on former Old Trafford security official Ned Kelly, who intends to publish a book about "the players` nocturnal habits". [... more]

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