Sir Alex Ferguson Fined for Biased Official Rant

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been fined £12,000 by The Football Association after being found guilty of a misconduct charge having criticised an official following the draw against Tottenham Hotspur in January.

Ferguson questioned assistant referee Simon Beck's decision not to award United a second half penalty after Steven Caulker appeared to trip Wayne Rooney at White Hart Lane.

After receiving the charge on January 29, Ferguson issued a denial but has subsequently been fined following a paper hearing during which the United manager submitted written evidence.

"Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, Sir Alex Ferguson has been fined £12,000 in relation to media comments made after Manchester United's game at Tottenham Hotspur on 20 January 2013," an FA statement read.

"It was alleged that the Manchester United manager's post-match media comments implied that the match official was motivated by bias.

"Ferguson had denied the misconduct charge and requested a paper hearing at which the Independent Regulatory Commission found proven the breach of FA Rule E3."

Clint Dempsey's late goal rubbed salt in the wound for United, who at the time saw their lead over champions Manchester City at the Premier League summit cut to five points.

"It was a clear penalty kick," Ferguson said at full-time.

"But there was no way the linesman was going to give that - he gave them everything. He had a really poor game."

"I am disappointed with him - we have not had a good record with him," Ferguson told BBC Sport.

"With Chelsea a couple of years back, he gave onside to Didier Drogba and he was three yards offside. You remember these things because it is [in] important games and that was an important game today.

"It was a clear decision. And he was 10 yards away, maybe 12 yards away from the incident and he doesn't give it. And yet he gave everything else."

The penalty is the latest in a long-line of punishments handed to Ferguson, with the Scot having been fined £87,000 in the last 10 years by The FA.

However, the 71 year old has avoided a touchline ban and will therefore be free to take to the dugout for United's game against Everton on Sunday.