Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will not be sued by Premier League official Alan Wiley for the defamatory remarks levelled against him in the wake of United’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland in October.

Ferguson accused Wiley of lacking the fitness required to be a top-level referee; a controversial statement that incurred punishment from the FA in the form of a two-match ban and a £20,000 fine. However, critics felt Ferguson had been treated extremely leniently by the governing body.

Wiley had considered taking legal action against Ferguson over the comments, but has now decided not to.

“Although I was bitterly disappointed about the personal attack on me, I want to put this behind me and continue to concentrate on my refereeing,” he told Sky Sports.

Alan Leighton, the national secretary for Prospect, a referee’s union, added: “Unwarranted and untrue attacks on referees damage the hard-earned reputation of our members, call into question their integrity and damage the image by suggesting that the referees are incapable of doing their job.”

He continued: “Referees understand and accept that their decisions will be questioned, but personal attacks are unacceptable.”