Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and his assistant Carlos Queiroz have been charged by the FA with improper conduct.

The charges relate to comments made by the pair following last month's FA Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Portsmouth.

Ferguson criticised match referee Martin Atkinson and Professional Game Match Officials general manager Keith Hackett after his side were not awarded a penalty after Sylvain Distin appeared to foul Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ferguson said at the time: "It's absolutely ridiculous. I cannot explain it. Managers get sacked because of things like that and he's going to referee a game next week.

"He (Hackett) is not doing his job properly and he needs to be assessed. I'm assessed as a manager, players are assessed, referees should be assessed properly by the right people. That performance should not be accepted by our game."

Portuguese coach Queiroz also branded Atkinson "a disgrace".

Both men have until April 17th to respond to the charge.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport