The Football Association (FA) has fined Manchester United first-team coach Darren Fletcher £7,500 and imposed a “three-match extended touchline ban” for his misconduct during the team’s 2-1 victory over Brentford on October 19.
Just before the Bees scored from a corner, Matthijs de Ligt was forced off the pitch due to a blood injury, which infuriated Fletcher.
The coach and the rest of the United staff were certain that if their star defence had been permitted to remain on the pitch, the goal would not have stood since they felt he should have done so after the blood was dried.
As the half-time whistle blew amid these protests that continued down the tunnel, Fletcher allegedly engaged the referees in “abusive” behaviour.
The FA alleges that during the game at Old Trafford, Fletcher “acted in an improper and/or confrontational manner and/or that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official and the referee and/or assistant referees around the tunnel area at half time.”
Although the United coach acknowledged his wrongdoing, he denied that he had been abusive to the authorities. An independent regulatory commission, however, “imposed his sanctions” after concluding that this was “proven.”
Fletcher will not play in United’s encounter against Leicester City this weekend, nor in Ruben Amorim’s debut as manager against Everton on December 1 and Ipswich Town on November 24.
Simon Peach (PA), however, discloses that the Scot intends to appeal the decision, with United “hoping to reduce” the punishment.
Aside from this, it will be interesting to watch what part, if any, Fletcher plays when Amorim and his support team arrive at Sporting from Portugal.
Fletcher’s exile from the Old Trafford touchline will soon turn into a permanent one if the 39-year-old boss wants a coaching staff made up entirely of people he knows.
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