London - Sir Alex Ferguson accepted a charge of improper conduct on Tuesday following his comments on the fitness of referee Alan Wiley. The Manchester United manager criticised Wiley following his side's 2-2 draw against Sunderland on October 3.
He has requested a personal hearing, a date for which has yet to be set.
"I was disappointed with the referee," Ferguson said. "He didn't add on any time for the goal. He played four minutes and two seconds.
"He was also walking up the pitch for the second goal needing a rest. He was not fit enough for a game of that standard.
"The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit. It is an indictment of our game.
"You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher's dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn't fit.
"He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous."
Ferguson has since apologized "for any personal embarrassment that my remarks may have caused - and to the FA for going public with my views".
He added: "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 Mr Wiley is a bad referee, that he was in any way biased, that 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 modern game, which I hope will now be properly addressed through the appropriate formal channels."
Ferguson also drew condemnation from referees after criticising Andre Marriner over two incidents in United's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
