FA fines Ferguson for implying official was biased

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LONDON (AP) The English Football Association has fined Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson 12,000 pounds ($18,900) for implying a referee's assistant was motivated by bias.

After a 1-1 draw at Tottenham last month, Ferguson was angry that linesman Simon Beck didn't award a penalty when United was leading 1-0.

Ferguson claimed in a television interview that "there was no way we were going to get a decision from" Beck, citing Beck's 2010 decision to allow a goal by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, whom the manager claimed was offside.

An FA independent regulatory commission ruled on Friday that Ferguson was guilty of misconduct because he "implied that the match official was motivated by bias."

Updated February 8, 2013