Ferguson 'faces £65k fine for BBC snub'

Manchester United will reportedly face fines totalling £65,000 this week due to manager Sir Alex Ferguson's steadfast refusal to break his boycott on speaking to the BBC.

Premier League chairman Sir David Richards is understood to have been in contact with United chief executive David Gill to discuss the veteran Scot's continued refusal to cooperate with the corporation, reports the Daily Mail.

Under current league rules, club managers must conduct pre and post-match interviews with all broadcast partners, including the BBC.

However, Ferguson has refused to speak to the BBC ever since the corporation aired an unflattering Panorama documentary in 2004 on the business practices of his son Jason, who was then operating as a football agent.

After months of negotiation with Manchester United, the Premier League is finally poised to act on the transgression of its regulations.

The league has to power to fine Ferguson £20,000 for each time he refuses to give an interview to the BBC, but it is thought that officials will impose a much lighter sanction.

Ferguson has so far failed to comply with the new regulations for 13 games, meaning the league could impose a fine of £5,000 per game, adding up to £65,000.

However, with the BBC and Ferguson seemingly unlikely to reach a compromise in the row, it's unclear whether the fines will escalate over the course of the season.