LONDON - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has denied a charge by the English Football Association that he implied a referee's assistant was motivated by bias.

Speaking after a 1-1 draw at Tottenham earlier this month, Ferguson was angry that linesman Simon Beck didn't award a penalty when United was leading 1-0.

Ferguson claimed in a television interview that "there was no way we were going to get a decision from" Beck, citing a 2010 decision to allow a goal by Didier Drogba to stand for Chelsea when the manager claimed the striker was offside.

The FA announced Friday that Ferguson denied "he implied that the match official was motivated by bias."

Ferguson has requested a "paper hearing," meaning that his written explanation will be submitted and he won't have to attend.

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