SIR Alex Ferguson's written apology to referee Alan Wiley is unlikely to get the United boss off an FA rap and it could even land him in court.

Seven days after saying the official was unfit to ref the Reds 2-2 draw at Old Trafford against Sunderland, Fergie wrote to Wiley to say sorry.

But it has done nothing to settle the issue and the Football Association are still waiting for an official response to their original request for an explanation.

The Reds' manager has until 10am this Friday to adhere to the FA's request and explain his comments after which they will look into the matter.

"As far as we are concerned nothing has changed. The process still has to be completed," an FA spokesman said.

It appears Fergie's letter to Wiley that appeared on the club's website was an independent gesture by Sir Alex and wasn't his explanation to the FA which still has to find its way to their Wembley headquarters.

But his apology has only fanned the flames. Crucially his explanation that he wasn't verbally attacking Wiley's integrity hasn't appeased the referees' union Prospect.

Prospect were not satisfied with Sir Alex's apology saying he failed to retract his accusation that Wiley and referees in general were unfit and are considering suing the United manager.

National secretary of Prospect, Alan Leighton, said in response to Fergie's letter:

"If the FA don't satisfy us, we would have to take legal advice. Any issue of defamation would be against Sir Alex.

Ferguson controversy

"One of the issues is whether there has been defamation. We haven't gone to the lawyers yet. We're still hoping for a full and proper apology. And we're still waiting to see what the FA do before going down that route.

"We're very anxious not to have this seen as Referees v Sir Alex Ferguson, but he doesn't help himself in many ways.

"It looks good in that he says he has always respected Alan Wiley's integrity and has never said he was biased or a bad ref.

"But he doesn't withdraw his remark about Alan not being fit or apologise for it. And saying a referee is not fit is actually questioning his integrity.

"A key component of refereeing is being fit, so Sir Alex has questioned his integrity. And I'm surprised he hasn't realised that.

"Further, he's now making aspersions about other referees, suggesting they are not fit. He doesn't seem to understand the enormity of what he is saying here. If they are not fit then they can't be fit to referee.

"What Sir Alex appears to be trying to do is to say he has apologised and therefore that should be the end of the matter. But what he's done is crank it up."

Fergie could be facing a fine and a touchline ban but the referees also want the punishment to go further and for the United boss to be banned from issuing a team talk before a match and at half-time.

"We hope there's a meaningful punishment," added Leighton. "This is a huge topic and it isn't going to go away on this partial apology. I'd be very disappointed if the FA duck the issue.

"Should that happen, we would want to talk to them about tightening the punishment system in future."

Ferguson's letter of apology was put on the club's website while he was away on a break in New York.

The Reds' boss intends to speak to Wiley personally when he returns from the States.

He said in his letter: "I apologise to Mr Wiley for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused - and to the FA for going public with my views.

"In retrospect, I accept that this could be deemed as expressing those views in an inappropriate forum.

"It was never my intention to bring the focus of intense media attention on Mr Wiley. I intend to contact him personally after I return from a trip overseas during this international break.

"I would wish it to be noted that I have always respected Mr Wiley's integrity and that I did not state or imply that he is a bad referee, in any way biased or that his decision-making generally during the game was poor or that he missed any key incident during the game.

"My only intention in speaking publicly was to highlight what I believe to be a serious and important issue in the game, namely that the fitness levels of referees must match the ever-increasing demands of the game.

"Which I hope will now be properly addressed through the appropriate formal channels."

The FA are now awaiting the United manager's official response to them for his comments after the Sunderland game.

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