Soccer: Ferguson in UEFA strife for no show

Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson, left, reacts as Real Madrid's coach Jose Mourinho from Portugal gestures from the touchline. Photo / AP

UEFA yesterday charged Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson for not attending a mandatory news conference after his team lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan was sent instead and told reporters his boss was "distraught" after United's 1-2 loss on Wednesday, when Madrid came back from a goal down after winger Nani was given a disputed red card.

Madrid won 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel would judge the case on March 21. Ferguson is likely to be ordered to pay a small fine.

Champions League regulations compel clubs to make their manager or head coach available for a UEFA-run news conference within 20 minutes of the final whistle.

United players also snubbed post-match interviews, despite clubs being required to "use their best efforts" to provide players for interviews within 15 minutes after the match if a UEFA media official requests it.

UEFA said the panel would also consider extending the automatic one-match ban which Nani must serve. All players receiving red cards for serious foul play in a UEFA match have their case referred to the disciplinary body.

United were leading 1-0 when the Portuguese winger was sent off by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir for leaving his right boot dangerously high when trying to control a ball, inadvertently planting it in the chest of Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa.

The red card infuriated Ferguson, who remonstrated with the fourth official on the touchline after the 56th-minute incident.

- AP