Man United coach Darren Fletcher's touchline ban is REDUCED on appeal - after he had to be held back as he launched a string of f-word slurs at referee
- Darren Fletcher has had his touchline ban reduced following a successful appeal
- Man United coach was sanctioned for an x-rated rant at officials in Brentford win
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Darren Fletcher's three-game touchline ban has been reduced following a successful appeal.
The Manchester United coach was handed the ban and £7,500 fine for misconduct by the Football Association following an incident during a game between United and Brentford.
However, after successfully appealing to an independant board, the 40-year-old's ban has been reduced to just two games and a £6,000 fine.
A statement from the FA read: 'The FA alleged that around the tunnel area at half time the coach 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.
'Darren Fletcher admitted to this misconduct, but argued that it was only towards the fourth official and the referee, and also denied that he was abusive.'
The sanction stemmed from United's 2-1 win over Brentford on October 19.
Darren Fletcher's three-game touchline ban for an incident in Man United's win over Brentford has been reduced on appeal
The United coach was sanctioned for misconduct by the FA following the game last month
However the former United player has seen his ban reduced to just two games following an appeal
With the clash goalless heading into first-half stoppage time, referee Samuel Barrott forced Matthijs de Ligt off the pitch to receive treatment for a head wound that was bleeding profusely.
With the Dutch defender on the sidelines, Brentford took the lead through an Ethan Pinnock header causing chaos in the technical area.
Both Erik ten Hag and his assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy were booked for their reactions on the touchline, while an animated Fletcher could be seen angrily protesting the decision as both teams left the pitch for half time.
Fletcher then continued his protests in the tunnel at half-time to both Barrott and fourth official Gavin Ward.
Written reasons for Fletcher's sanction were later revealed by the Independent Regulatory Commission, with Barrott, Ward and the two assistant referees detailing Fletcher's conduct.
'Following the half time whistle and as I made my way up the tunnel, I was approached by Darren Fletcher of Manchester United in an extremely aggressive manner pointing and shouting at me 'you are all f***ing s***, that is a f***ing joke, every f***ing week,' fourth official Ward told the Commission.
'I asked him to calm down and highlighted that his behaviour was completely unacceptable at this point.
'He then needed to be held back by another member of staff, as he tried to get closer to me. With this, I turned away and continued to make my way to the match officials changing room.
Man United's coaching team had protested Matthijs de Ligt being forced to leave the field for treatment against Brentford, with the Bees scoring from a subsequent corner
Fourth official Gavin Ward later claimed an irate Fletcher had repeatedly sworn at the officials
'Once in the changing room and when the other match officials arrived, I made them aware of the conduct of Mr Fletcher.'
Fletcher has already served the first of his two-game ban as he missed United's 3-0 win against Leicester prior to the international break.
However, he will still miss Sunday's clash with Ipswich which is set to make Ruben Amorim's first game as head coach after being appointed to the role earlier this month.
During a 13-year playing career at Old Trafford Fletcher made 342 appearances and scored 24 goals in all competitions for United.
In 2020 Fletcher returned to his boyhood club in a coaching role, and was later appointed technical director at the club before being replaced in the role by Jason Wilcox in April.
Fletcher's twin sons both are part of United's academy, with England youth international Jack named on the bench against Brentford and subsequent Premier League games against West Ham and Chelsea.
