Manchester United coach held back by staff as he abused referee sees FA reduce punishment

Manchester United coach Darren Fletcher has successfully reduced his touchline sentence to two matches after being found guilty of misconduct.

Fletcher was fined £7,500 and suspended for three matches after an independent regulatory commission determined he acted improperly and/or confrontationally, as well as using abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official, referee, and/or assistant referees in the tunnel area during United’s match against Brentford last month.

Fletcher was enraged when the Bees seized the lead five minutes into first-half extra time with Ethan Pinnock’s header, after United defender Matthijs de Ligt was dragged off the pitch by Barrott. The referee determined that the Dutchman required more off-field care for the severely bleeding injuries. United argued that De Ligt should have been let back on, but the goal remained.

Fletcher then yelled at Barrott and fourth official Gavin Ward in the tunnel. The FA charged him with misconduct and imposed a three-match ban and £7,500 fine.

The written reasons for Fletcher’s punishment were published earlier this month, with an Independent Commission stating: “Mr Fletcher becomes agitated and begins to remonstrate with the Fourth Official, gesticulating with his hands, shouting, and attempting to approach the Fourth Official in a confrontational manner.”

“A Manchester United teammate then holds him back and pushes him away. There are other players and technical personnel in the neighborhood who are watching the remonstration.

According to Barrott, Fletcher continually branded him a ‘f****** joke and a disgrace’.

The former Scotland international agreed to the wrongdoing, but claimed it was solely directed at the fourth official and the referee. He also denied being abusive and appealed.

“The independent appeal board has reduced the extended touchline ban and fine to two matches and £6,000, respectively, and its written reasons will be published in due course,” according to a Football Association statement.