Turns out Alex Ferguson isn't above punishment from the FA after all. Manchester United's manager was handed a two-match bantoday for the next two Premier League games as a result of criticizing referee Alan Wiley a few weeks ago. Ferguson will remain in the stands for league matches against Everton and Portsmouth.
Ferguson questioned the fitness of referee Alan Wiley after United could only muster a 2-2 draw against Sunderland at Old Trafford on October. In that match, United was lucky to come away with a point, drawing in the last minute on an own goal by Sunderland.
Ferguson later apologized for his comments, but retracting his statement didn't prevent the FA from coming down on the Scotsman with the ban. His ban was technically four games, but the last two were suspended unless Ferguson commits a similar violation between now and the end of the 2010-11 season.
Here are a couple other stories from Europe for this afternoon:
Carlo Cudicini injured in motorcycle accident.In a week that has been devastating for goalkeepers, Tottenham goalie Carlo Cudicini was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident this morning in London.
The 36-year-old was immediately rushed to a hospital, where it was revealed that he had fractured both of his wrists and injured his pelvis. Given the Italian's age, it's realistic to suggest that this accident could end his career. Cudicini had featured intermittently for Spurs, most recently backing up Heurelho Gomes.
Celtic, Rangers turned away from Premier League. The age-old discussion in Scotland is that Celtic and Rangers are too big for the Scottish Premier League. That talk can be put on hold for the near future, as a proposal to include the Old Firm in a two-level league was rejected today at a meeting of Premier League chairman.
A handful of managers around England had voiced support of the idea, and Bolton's chairman Phil Gartside had brought the proposal to the rest of the chairman at Thursday's meeting. However, the proposal was seen as neither "desirable or viable."
Celtic and Rangers have dominated the league for the last 11 years, having won every title between the two of them. Their rivalry has gone before them, as the Old Firm derby at times has been the most captivating in European soccer.
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What do you think of Ferguson's ban? Distraught at Cudicini's injury? Disappointed that Celtic/Rangers won't join the English Premier League?
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