Ferguson apology to Wiley unlikely to prevent fine

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reported to have spent £3m on a penthouse apartment in New York with a view of Central Park. The Sunday Mirror quoted a friend of Ferguson's as saying: "Alex bought the penthouse a few weeks ago. He's a 24-hour man and loves buzzing cities... and New York is his favourite."

Ferguson has been holiday in Manhattan during the Premier League's one-week break for internationals, and it was from there that he sent an apology on Saturday to referee Alan Wiley following the controversial remarks he made after Man Utd's 2-2 draw with Sunderland the previous weekend.

Ferguson claimed that Wiley had added insufficient injury time, thus denying Man Utd the chance to get a third, late goal and settle a game they had been expected to win. But he didn't leave it there.

Speaking on MUTV afterwards, Ferguson said: "He [Wiley] was not fit enough for a game of that standard. The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butchers' dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn't fit. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous."

Ferguson has until Friday to explain his comments to the Football Association. Will the apology make a difference? Unlikely. Many commentators yesterday saw it as half-hearted and designed only to avoid disciplinary measures. While Ferguson apologised for "any personal embarrassment" his remarks may have caused Wiley, he did not withdraw the charge that Wiley was unfit.

The FA is likely to charge the Man Utd manager with bringing the game into disrepute and hand down a touchline ban and a fine, possibly even a dressing-room ban.

He'll either have to sit in the stands and bite his tongue - or he could always return to New York and help Lady Ferguson choose the scatter cushions for the new pad. And a hairdryer, of course. ·