The FA may appeal against the decision to clear Manchester
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant Carlos Queiroz of
improper conduct.
The pair were charged in relation to comments made
following United's FA Cup defeat by Portsmouth on March
8.
Ferguson's charge concerned comments about referee Martin
Atkinson and referees' chief Keith Hackett and Queiroz's charge
related to comments about Atkinson.
At an independent regulatory commission hearing on Wednesday the
charges were found 'not proved'.
The FA have confirmed they have the option to appeal - and
refuted suggestions a transcription error led to the commission
finding the pair not guilty.
The governing body will await receipt of the full judgement and
'written reasons' before considering further action.
As for suggestions their case failed because their belief
Queiroz described Atkinson as a 'robber' proved to be incorrect,
the FA insist the charge did not centre solely on that alleged
comment.
"The charges were brought on more than just the issue of the
word 'robber'," said an FA spokesman.
"At any disciplinary hearing the FA, as the prosecutor, argues
its case, as does the defence. The fact that the commission found
the charge was not proved does not mean that the FA made any errors
in putting the case together.
"The commission has to make a decision based on the applicable
standards of proof, which is balance of probability."
