Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to escape sanction despite his verbal attack on Mark Clattenburg, the referee, after Manchester United’s 1-1 draw away to Birmingham City on Saturday.

　　The United manager has a two-match suspended touchline ban hanging over him for criticising Alan Wiley’s fitness after the 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland on October 3, for which he was also fined £20,000.

　　Coming a week after Ferguson criticised Chris Foy for adding only six minutes at the end of United’s FA Cup third-round defeat by Leeds United, the FA will assess his latest rant carefully, but according to sources at the governing body it is unlikely that the Scot will be charged.

　　Ferguson claimed that he has “been watching Mark Clattenburg this season”. He criticised the Tyne and Wear official’s perceived inconsistency in sending off Darren Fletcher with a “soft” and “absolutely ridiculous” decision when, he said, “you had to hit someone with an axe before [Clattenburg] would book anyone” when Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur in October.