Alex Ferguson's anger at the English Football Association's five-match ban on Roy Keane manifested itself in an outspoken attack on the authorities yesterday.

Ferguson said Manchester United had been "victimised" and claimed that other clubs, such as Leeds and Arsenal, were treated more leniently.

The severity of the punishment did not surprise Ferguson, but he made it clear that the club would back Keane if the player decided to appeal.

"I feel it is unfair and that we are victimised sometimes," he said. "It seems that because of the exposure of Manchester United, and the baggage we carry, we are always treated more severely than other clubs."

Ferguson cited last season's disciplinary hearings when the Leeds striker Mark Viduka and Arsenal's Patrick Vieira were charged with elbowing Martin Keown and Jimmy Hasselbaink respectively.

Despite the television evidence which had implicated Viduka and Vieira, the FA's disciplinary committee cleared both players.

"Two players appeared before the FA on elbowing charges at the end of last season and both got off," said Ferguson.

"People are divided about what is fair and what is not fair. But you have to ask yourself - what is more serious, trying to take out someone's eyeball with your elbow or writing an honest book?

"It's something we have to accept, however unfair it is, because there's nothing we can do about it. If people feel that way about us, including the FA, there is not much we can do about it.

"All we can do is make sure that we keep the best disciplinary record in the Premiership, which we invariably do."

Ferguson has mistrusted the disciplinary process ever since the FA added another four months' suspension to the four that United had given Eric Cantona after his kung-fu attack on a Crystal Palace supporter in January 1995.

The decision to ban Keane and fine him £150,000 drew a more hostile reaction at Maine Road.

Alf-Inge Haaland may still sue Keane, and David Bernstein, the City chairman, fears the controversy may have caused irreparable damage to the clubs' relationship.

"Alfie is not great, he is struggling. He has had a series of operations and is working hard but his career is on a knife-edge," he said.

"The fact is that Keane's playing and Alfie's not and it's a sad reflection of the world that Keane has sought to earn substantially from a book which has been boosted by these sorts of views while the career of another professional footballer is on the edge."

Keane is still undecided about whether to appeal. "It's his personal decision," said Ferguson, "and he is giving it a lot of thought with his legal team".

Haaland, assisted by his club, is taking legal advice about whether he has a case against Keane and United for potential loss of earnings, the drop in his transfer valuation and loss of status. He expects to make an announcement in November.

"This is a sensitive matter," said Bernstein. "We are not yet ready to make a decision, but we are taking specialist medical advice and legal advice. We won't proceed unless that advice is positive and we believe we have a winning case.

"We have worked hard to develop our relations with our neighbours. We do not want this to impact on the relationship between the clubs or between the supporters and we will do everything to keep things at a proper, dignified level. But there is, inevitably, that danger."

One game Keane will miss is the derby at Maine Road on November 9th, when Greater Manchester police will conduct one of its biggest security operations for a football match.