Ferguson fined £12,000 over linesman criticism

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has been fined for misconduct after implying that a linesman was biased during the club's recent match with Tottenham, the Football Association said on Friday. The governing body said an independent regulatory commission had ordered the Old Trafford boss to pay 12,000 pounds ($19,000, 14,000 euros) for his post-match comments about assistant referee Simon Beck on January 20. Ferguson denied the charge and requested a hearing, but he was found to have been in breach of FA Rule E3, which governs "technical area occupants and tunnel incidents". He made the comments in the immediate aftermath of the 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane and was angry that United were not given a penalty for a foul on Wayne Rooney midway through the second half. Spurs went on to snatch a late equaliser. Ferguson claimed that United had "history" with Beck following the official's failure to rule that a Didier Drogba goal for Chelsea against United at Old Trafford in 2010 was offside in a match that proved pivotal in that season's title race. From: AFP