Alex Ferguson faces FA ban folowing confrontation with Mike Dean

Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, is facing a possible touchline ban after remonstrating with the referee, Mike Dean, at Old Trafford.

The Football Association will consider the nature of any disciplinary action when it has received Dean’s report.

Ferguson was incensed that Dean awarded Newcastle United’s second goal. When Danny Simpson shot goalwards, Papiss Cissé appeared to be in an offside position as the ball deflected in off Manchester United defender Jonny Evans past David de Gea.

The assistant referee, Jake Collin, initially signalled an offside against Cissé. Dean ran over to consult Collin, eventually ruling that Cissé was not interfering with play.

Before the start of the second half, Ferguson strode on to the pitch and made his point loudly to Dean before heading to the dug-out and continuing the offside debate with Collin and the fourth official, Neil Swarbrick.

According to the updated Laws of the Game, the relevant section on offside in Law XI states that “a player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by interfering with an opponent”.