SOCCER:THE Football Association is studying footage of the controversial TV interviews with Alex Ferguson which followed Manchester United's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal to decide whether the Scot has once again crossed the line of criticising match officials .

Ferguson, who has only just returned to the dugout after a five-game touchline ban for comments about referee Martin Atkinson, claimed United ought to have had a late penalty at the Emirates on Sunday for Gael Clichy’s challenge on United’s substitute Michael Owen.

“We’re not going to get the decisions in these big games, I’m afraid,” Ferguson claimed after the game. “We are not going to get decisions like that in a major game. It’s too big a game and we don’t seem to get these decisions.”

The United manager went on to complain about the decisions he feels Chelsea have enjoyed in the recent league fixtures against his team, which was interpreted as his method of applying pressure on the officials who will take charge when the London club are at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Any FA action today would be certain to anger and enrage both Ferguson and United.

GuardianService