Ferguson: I am guilty!

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he was wrong to brand referee Alan Wiley ‘unfit’ by pleading guilty to an FA charge of improper conduct.

The Manchester United manager – at the centre of more controversy over his latest attack on a referee on Sunday – has contacted the FA to admit to the charge, Sportsmail can reveal.

Ferguson’s confession has come just seven days after he was given until a week today to make a formal response to the charge. He has broken new ground by replying to the FA far more swiftly than was necessary, having previously taken disciplinary cases against him to the wire, and has asked for a personal hearing. A date is in the process of being set.

Ferguson faces a three-match touchline ban for his comments, which would take the FA halfway to satisfying the demands of referees’ union Prospect.

Since his outburst against Wiley following United’s 2-2 draw against Sunderland on October 3, Ferguson has felt the backlash, with huge public support for referees in their campaign for a deterrent against excessive criticism.

Disciplinary chiefs spent yesterday studying Ferguson’s broadside against referee Andre Marriner following United’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool, in which the official’s experience was questioned, but they decided Ferguson did not cross the line this time.