Alex Ferguson will not appeal against touchline ban

(GETTY IMAGES)

The Football Association have confirmed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will not appeal his five-game touchline ban.

Ferguson received the punishment yesterday for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson following the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.

Ferguson was today critical of the FA's decision to ban him, but the FA confirmed Ferguson will not appeal.

The governing body have also accepted a request for his suspension to begin immediately, which means he will not be in the dugout for the Barclays Premier League game against Bolton but would be able to return for the potentially crucial league game against title challengers Arsenal in May.

Ferguson will be banned from the touchline for the Premier League games against Bolton, West Ham, Fulham and Everton as well as the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.

An FA statement read: "The FA can confirm that Manchester United will not be appealing Sir Alex Ferguson's five game touchline ban.

"Manchester United have also requested that the ban starts with immediate effect. This has been accepted by the FA."

Ferguson, who was also fined £30,000, hit out at the punishment earlier today.

His decision not to appeal comes after waiting for the written reasons for the decision to be received at Old Trafford today.

"It is disappointing," said Ferguson this morning. "It is the only industry you can't tell the truth in.

"I have not made up my mind about whether to appeal but I don't want to say anything.

"It is in the past and it is not worth it."

Feeling aggrieved at Atkinson's performance in his side's 2-1 defeat, Ferguson said at the time: "You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway - and we didn't get that.

"I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst."

The feeling persists that Ferguson might not even have been charged had Wayne Rooney been punished for elbowing Wigan's James McCarthy at the DW Stadium three days earlier.

However, such is the ill-feeling towards the outspoken United manager in some sections of the football community that the stringent punishment has generally been welcomed, with many feeling Ferguson has been able to escape sanctions for too long.

It is not a view shared inside Old Trafford obviously, although given the trouble he has found himself in, possibly explains Ferguson's reluctance to attend post-match press conferences, when emotions are running high.

At least the United manager can be reasonably certain today's observations will not land him in any further trouble despite Ferguson's clear dislike for the way he has been treated.

Even Chelsea counterpart Carlo Ancelotti believes the length of the ban is harsh.

"I think that, my opinion, is that Ferguson has always had good behaviour and I think five games now is too much," he said.

"There is no reason he has to be out for five matches and I do not think that can change their strength and the power of Manchester United.

"I know what he said after the game. Obviously it was not good behaviour but five games is too much."