Alex Ferguson today defended his on-field outburst at referee Mike Dean and launched into an astonishing tirade at Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, describing him as a manager of a “wee club in the north east”.
The Football Association announced yesterday that no action will be taken against the Manchester United manager.
The Scot was furious after Dean overruled assistant Jake Collin and awarded Newcastle’s second goal in the Red Devils’ 4-3 win on St Stephen's Day.
Ferguson approached Dean as he made his way out for the second half, before rounding on the fourth official Neil Swarbrick and Collin.
Pardew said yesterday that said Dean will have been “slightly disappointed” he did not take action against Ferguson at the time.
Today Ferguson hit back at his critics.
“I was demonstrative but I was not out of order,” he said.
“The press have had a field day. The only person they have not spoken to is Barack Obama because he is busy,
“It is unfortunate but I am the manager of the most famous club in the world. Not Newcastle, a wee club in the north east.
“I was demonstrative. I am always demonstrative. Everyone knows that. I am an emotional guy. But I was not abusive.
“I shouted Mike over. We walked towards each other. I was only on (the pitch) three or four yards. That has been overplayed.
“The problem for me is that the profile of this club is huge.
“Alan Pardew has come out and criticised me. He is the worst at haranguing referees. He shoves them and makes a joke of it. How he can criticise me is unbelievable. He forgets the help I gave him, by the way.”
Pardew was given a two-match touchline ban and fined £20,000 after accepting an FA charge of improper conduct for pushing an assistant referee earlier this season.
He was sent off during the 2-1 win over Tottenham on August 18 at St James’ Park when he pushed Peter Kirkup after claiming the ball had gone out of play during a Spurs attack.