Uefa to charge Ferguson over 'fix' allegations

Alex Ferguson's verbal jousting may be part of the English football landscape but the game's ruling body in Europe yesterday made clear it was less impressed with his predilection for shooting from the lip.

Following Ferguson's weekend allegation that the Champions' League quarter-final draw had been fixed in favour of Spanish and Italian teams, Uefa charged the Manchester United manager with bringing the game into disrepute. Ferguson had already withdrawn the comments but is likely to be fined by Uefa when its control and disciplinary body consider the case on 1 May. It would be his second offence, having been fined £2,000 by Uefa in 1999 for derogatory remarks about Italians.

With neither the Football Association nor the Premier League prepared to challenge him, Ferguson has become accustomed to saying and doing what he wants in England. An example is his continuing refusal to attend press conferences, contrary to Premier League guidelines, and regular jibes at referees. Uefa is less cowed by his reputation.

In a statement, it said: "With his remarks, Sir Alex cast doubt upon the integrity of the draw for the quarter-finals. Member associations, their players, officials and members, should conduct themselves according to the principle of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship."

On Sunday, Ferguson had been quoted thus: "Real Madrid – they have a nice draw. They must have picked it themselves. The Spanish or Italian teams don't play each other, how do you think they work that out? They don't want us in the final [at Old Trafford], that's for sure, but I'm not listening." Spain and Italy each supply three of the eight quarter-finalists.

In a rare apology, he later said: "I have been assured by Uefa that the draw was fair. I take their word for it. I was wrong to say what I did."

Ferguson's previous fine again resulted from pre-match comments. Before the quarter-final, first leg in 1999, United's opponents, Internazionale, had said Ronaldo was injured. Ferguson said: "When the Italians tell you it's pasta on the plate I even check under the sauce to make sure it really is." Before the second leg he said the Italians' tactics would include "scheming, diving, referee baiting – the full repertoire".

Peter Kenyon, United's chief executive, claimed Ferguson's comments were part of his "mind-game" psychology. He said: "I think that such is the tension these 10 days – with games against Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Arsenal – it's all part of the build-up."

Ferguson also said he wanted a "strong" referee who would not be intimidated by Madrid's "dirty tricks" and suggested Madrid's Roberto Carlos, who was sent off in Brazil's friendly against Portugal last week for barging into the referee, should not have been allowed to play.

Speculation over whether David Beckham will move to Madrid in the summer was fuelled yesterday by revelations from Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper, Ricardo, that the England captain had been asking him about the quality of schools in the Spanish capital.

During an interview for Spanish television, Ricardo reportedly said: "A couple of days ago when I asked him if he was going to move to Real Madrid this summer he started asking me questions about the quality of primary schools in Madrid. I told him that the schools there are the best in the world. There is no doubt he would be the icing on the cake at Madrid – if he moved there they would have everything."

In a move which Ricardo must hope is not related to his comments, United are said to be showing an interest in the American goalkeeper Tim Howard, according to his club, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars.

"Manchester United have shown an interest in Timmy and he's quite a goalkeeper," said the club's general manager, Nick Sakiewicz, of the 24-year-old who was in the US squad at last year's World Cup. "They've asked us for some tapes of him in action and for permission to talk with him and get to know him. Things are at a preliminary stage and he's just signed a long-term contract with us."