Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has launched a robust defence of his conduct following the allegations of indecent assault made against him in South Africa yesterday.
While Ferguson admitted it 'would have been better' if he had not accepted a lift from 21-year-old Nadia Abrahams after attending a jazz club with 16 members of an official party which included coach Jim Ryan, the Scot, married with three children, insisted he had done nothing wrong.
In a statement, Ferguson said the claims - which are being investigated by the South African police - are untrue and had caused distress to his family.
The United boss will remain in South Africa as planned, although it is not known whether he will return home on Monday as scheduled. There is however no bar on him leaving the country.
Ferguson travelled to the country with his wife Cathy, and on Thursday night attended an official function with members of the South African Football Association.
His South African legal representative Alex Abercrombie saw Ferguson get into Abrahams' car and said he didn't anticipate any charges being brought against his client, although a decision is not expected until Monday.
"I would like to make it clear that any allegations of improper conduct, let alone sexual assault, on my part are untrue and entirely without foundation," said Ferguson.
"I flew to South Africa on Wednesday with my wife Cathy. On Thursday evening following a day of official business I attended a function on behalf of Manchester United.
"I was accompanied by Jim Ryan, a member of my coaching staff, as well as representatives of the South African Football Association, the group totalled 16 people.
"Following an enjoyable dinner the entire group went on to a nearby jazz club, which was owned by a member of the party.
"At the end of the evening arrangements were made for lifts back to the hotel, at which time a young lady who had been talking to myself and members of our party suggested that she could drop me back at my hotel since it was on her way home.
"The claim that it was my suggestion that I travel with her or that I forced my self into her car is untrue. A member of the group, Alex Abercrombie, an attorney and former acting judge, was with me as I got into her car and has borne witness to this in his statement to the police.
"In retrospect, clearly it would have been better if I had travelled back with members of the party who were already known to me, but I had no reason to expect that it would lead to her and her boyfriend making false claims to the police and then selling their story to British newspapers.
"There is, however, no story to tell beyond the fact that she gave me a lift back to my hotel, which was only 10 minutes away.
"This has obviously been distressing for my family, who have been completely supportive.
"Individuals in high-profile positions always run the risk of being targeted in this way. I believe that the British public however is fair-minded and will make their own judgement about a young woman and her boyfriend now trying to make huge sums by selling their story."
Manchester United have vowed to stand squarely behind their manager, who has never had personal accusations of this kind made against him before.
"Alex was in South Africa on official club business," said a statement issued on behalf of the club tonight.
"He has always been a fantastic ambassador for the club. In countries like South Africa, Sir Alex Ferguson like Manchester United is a household name, which makes him instantly recognisable to members of the public.
"We are confident his conduct has been professional as always."
PA