The Football Association have confirmed Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will not appeal his five-game touchline ban.

Ferguson received the punishment yesterday for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson following the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.

The governing body have also accepted a request for his suspension to begin immediately, which means he will not be in the dugout for the Barclays Premier League game against Bolton Wanderers but would be able to return for the potentially crucial league game against title challengers Arsenal in May.

Ferguson will be banned from the touchline for the Premier League games against Bolton, West Ham United, Fulham and Everton as well as the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.

An FA statement read: "The FA can confirm that Manchester United will not be appealing Sir Alex Ferguson's five game touchline ban. Manchester United have also requested that the ban starts with immediate effect. This has been accepted by the FA."