Sir Alex Ferguson says Alan Pardew's criticism is hypocritical

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Alan Pardew of hypocrisy after the Newcastle manager criticised his behaviour on Boxing Day.

Pardew said the Football Association should have punished Ferguson for confronting officials during Manchester United's 4-3 win at Old Trafford.

"Alan Pardew is the worst for haranguing referees. His whole staff [do it] every game," Ferguson said.

Pardew served a two-match ban for pushing a match official in August.

Ferguson confronted referee Mike Dean, his assistant Jake Collin and the fourth official Neil Swarbrick at the start of the second half of the Premier League game at Old Trafford to protest over Newcastle's second goal.

Dean had ruled that Papiss Cisse was not interfering with play when Jonny Evans put through his own goal after 28 minutes, even though the Senegal international was in an offside position when Danny Simpson hit the initial shot.

Pardew was unhappy that the United manager, 70, avoided punishment over the confrontation because Dean did not mention the incident in his match report.

TV cameras recorded the discussion between Ferguson and Dean as the teams came out for the second half, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said that it did not set a good example to those watching.

"The message it sends out when you look at the pictures is not to behave like that," he said.

Asked at a news conference whether he was surprised the referee did not mention the incident in his match report, Wenger said: "Yes, but you should ask this question to Mike Dean."

Wenger received an apology from referees' chief Keith Hackett after Dean sent him off for kicking a water bottle in a game at Old Trafford that Arsenal lost 2-1 in 2009.