LONDON - MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was charged on Thursday with improper conduct by the Football Association.

The charge concerns an incident after English and European champions United's hard-fought 4-3 Premier League victory against Hull at Old Trafford on Saturday, when Ferguson remonstrated with referee Mike Dean.

Ferguson has been given until Nov 19 to respond to the charge.

The Scot was clearly unhappy with Dean's display during a match where he did not send-off Hull's Michael Turner when the defender up-ended United and England midfielder Michael Carrick, having previously shown the defender a yellow card.

Dean also awarded a penalty against United for a foul by Rio Ferdinand on Bernard Mendy.

As Premier League new boys Hull fought back from 4-1 down against the English champions, United's players became increasingly petulant and England striker Wayne Rooney was considered fortunate by some observers to escape with just a booking for challenges on George Boateng and Andy Dawson.

Last season Ferguson, whose fierce verbal blasts at players have become known as 'the hairdryer', served a two-match touchline ban and was fined 5,000 pounds (S$11,700) for a finger-pointing rant at referee Mark Clattenburg during a defeat at Bolton after Patrice Evra came under a heavy challenge from Kevin Davies.

That same campaign also saw Ferguson label referee Martin Atkinson a 'disgrace' after eventual winners Portsmouth knocked United out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 quarter-final victory at Old Trafford in March. -- AFP