Fergie Decides Not To Appeal Against Five-game Ban

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has decided not to appeal against a five-match touchline ban for comments about referee Martin Atkinson.

The Football Association found Ferguson guilty of improper conduct for remarks after United's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.

The ban was due to start on 22 March but will now begin immediately, as the Scot requested.

That means Ferguson will be back in the dugout for the Premier League game with title rivals Arsenal in May.

The ban will, however, include United's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley on 16 April, as well as the Premier League games against Bolton, West Ham, Fulham and Everton.

A three-man disciplinary panel banned Ferguson on Wednesday for three matches for his post-match comments about Atkinson, which included him saying he "feared the worst" when he found out who was refereeing the league game at Stamford Bridge.

An additional two-game ban came into force following a suspended ban last season, and the 69-year-old was also fined £30,000.

Speaking about the ban on Friday, Ferguson said: "It is disappointing. It is the only industry you can't tell the truth in."