LONDON, Dec 15: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has been banned from the touchline for two matches and fined 5,000 pounds ($10,140), the Football Association (FA) said on Friday.

The sanction follows Ferguson’s comments to referee Mark Clattenburg at halftime during his side’s 1-0 Premier League defeat by Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Nov 24.

“Ferguson admitted a charge of using abusive and/or insulting words towards (the referee),” the FA said on its website. “As he did not request a personal hearing, the case was dealt with on the basis of written statements and video footage.”

The ban starts on Dec 28 and means Ferguson will watch United’s match at West Ham United the following day and their home game with Birmingham City on New Year’s Day from the stands.—Reuters