Ferguson will not appeal against suspension

Sir Alex Ferguson has opted not appeal against his two-match touchline ban and £10,000 fine imposed for abusing match officials.

The Football Association were informed yesterday of the Manchester United manager's decision and he will serve the ban in Saturday's home match against Fulham and then the Carling Cup game with Leeds next week.

An FA spokesman said: "We have received official confirmation that Sir Alex Ferguson will not be appealing against the two-match ban imposed by a disciplinary commission yesterday."

Ferguson was found guilty of improper conduct and abusive behaviour after a touchline tirade at the fourth official, Jeff Winter, during the match at Newcastle on 23 August.

The FA also confirmed that they have received submissions from United regarding Rio Ferdinand's missed drugs test. The documents include his mobile phone records, which could provide the key evidence in the case.

The FA's compliance unit will spend today studying the evidence and though they could announce charges today, with United playing Rangers in the Champions' League in the evening it is expected they will wait until at least the following day before making any announcement. Ferdinand is certain to face at least one charge of failing to attend an anti-doping test and the FA will have to decide whether there is enough evidence to charge him with "wilful" or deliberate failure to attend the drugs test on 23 September. That is a more severe charge and would carry a certain ban.

The Middlesbrough defender Franck Queudrue had asked for a personal hearing after being charged by the FA with violent behaviour. The FA acted after television replays appeared to show that the former Lens player had stamped on Kevin Phillips before the Southampton striker was sent off for violent conduct in the Premiership game on 27 September.

Queudrue said: "I was very surprised by the charge and I will defend myself against it. I did not do anything wrong and I will tell the FA that.

"I could not believe they had said I am violent and have accused me of stamping on Phillips."

Queudrue, who was the only Premiership player to receive an automatic red card on three occasions last season, added: "We went together for the ball by the touchline and it went out for a throw-in. We came together on the floor and then I tried to get up quickly because I could see he wanted to take a quick throw-in.

"My leg was on his calf as we fell and all I tried to do was get back quickly into defence and he kicked me."

Millwall are to appeal against the red card Dennis Wise received in his first game as caretaker player-manager at the weekend. Wise came off the bench at the New Den during a 2-0 win over Sheffield United only to be sent off by the referee, Rob Styles, within four minutes for a foul on Chris Armstrong .

The club's chief executive, Ken Brown, told the official club website: "Having studied the video a number of times we are of the opinion we have a case."

Walsall have also confirmed that they will appeal against the dismissal of the on-loan defender Chris Baird at Sunderland on Saturday. Baird was sent off by the referee, Paul Robinson, during first-half stoppage time in the 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light.

Robinson ruled that Baird had denied John Oster an obvious goalscoring opportunity, an offence which carries with it a one-game suspension, meaning the Southampton player would be ineligible for the Saddlers' home game with Norwich.