Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was stunned by the four-match suspension handed down to full-back Patrice Evra by the Football Association. The 27-year-old France international has been banned for his part in an after-match scuffle following the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea last season at Stamford Bridge, as well as being fined £15,000.

Ferguson said: "It was a shock.

"Of all the things the FA have done to us down the years that was one of their biggest. I could not believe it.

"You could never tell what these people are doing. Even if I was sitting having breakfast with them, I would not know what they were thinking.

"But we are still waiting for the written reasons to be delivered to (chief executive) David Gill, so we cannot really comment on what our next step will be."