Sir Alex Ferguson's touchline ban will see him miss a home clash with Everton and an away game at Portsmouth.

The Scot's punishment - which also includes a further two-match ban suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season and a £20,000 fine - was imposed after he claimed official Alan Wiley "just wasn't fit enough" to take charge of United's 2-2 draw with Sunderland last month.

Alan Leighton, national secretary of officials' union Prospect, is disappointed by the ruling and believes the authorities missed an opportunity to make a statement to back up the FA's Respect campaign.

"From our point of view it is disappointing. The Football Association had a chance to make a point and they flunked it," he told Press Association Sport.

"To question the fitness of referee is to question his ability to do the job and his integrity.

"We don't think this is sending the right message out to other managers.

"This is not a personal vendetta against Sir Alex but he has a particular stature within the game and if he is seen to be getting off lightly other managers may think what he said was not beyond the pale.

"What is interesting is that the commission thought the comments were not just improper but were grossly improper and wholly inappropriate."

Ferguson's touchline ban begins when United's Premier League campaign resumes after the international break with a Saturday evening kick-off against Everton on Saturday November 21.

He will return to the dug-out for the Champions League encounter with Turkish side Besiktas four days later before having to sit in the stands at Fratton Park the following Saturday.

Ferguson now has to be mindful of his future conduct for the next season and a half as his suspended two-match ban will be automatically activated should he be found guilty of a similar charge before the end of the 2010/11 campaign.

It will be applied in addition to any sanction imposed for the new offence.