Sir Alex Warned

Sir Alex Ferguson has been "warned as to his future conduct" by the Football Association following comments made about referee Howard Webb on 6 May 2011, two days before United played Chelsea at Old Trafford.

The FA's Respect campaign requests managers do not speak about match officials - in a positive or negative light - prior to fixtures.

The FA issued the following statement on Tuesday morning: "A Regulatory Commission has today warned Sir Alex Ferguson as to his future conduct. Ferguson was charged with improper conduct, relating to his pre-match media comments made about match official Howard Webb on 6 May 2011."

After the hearing, the Chairman of the Commission said: "This rule was brought in at the start of the 2009/10 season and this was reiterated formally to all clubs again on 21 October 2010. This is a clear breach of the rule and it is the first time such a matter has been placed in front of a Commission. As a result of this charge The Commission were aware of other occasions where pre-match comments were made by other Managers. In this case, it was considered to be a minor breach, but a breach nevertheless, and it should be taken as a warning to all managers in the future that any such breach, even positive comments, are likely to result in a charge by The FA."