As Evra was due to miss tomorrow's visit to Tottenham after picking up five bookings this season, he is not due to feature in domestic action again until the January 11 visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford.

Ferguson is still fuming and confirmed United have yet to receive confirmation of the ban in writing.

Evra has plenty of support too, judging by the telephone calls Ferguson has received this week expressing amazement at the verdict into a clash between the full-back and Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethell immediately after the controversial Premier League game at Stamford Bridge last April.

United will only be in a position to decide their next course of action once they hear from the FA. But Ferguson, and his club, are distinctly unimpressed.

"What can anyone say? It is a terrible black mark against the FA," Ferguson told MUTV.

"A lot of people have been ringing about it because it is the most incredible decision in my time at this club.

"The FA have done many things but this is absolutely beyond me.

"Can you believe we are still waiting for the official confirmation of it? They have been doing that report to make sure it is 100% watertight.

"We have asked for the transcript. That is important because we are not happy."

Not that Ferguson can afford to spend too much time worrying about Evra's situation tomorrow evening as United look to overcome four key injuries and navigate one more hazardous trip before they head to Japan for the Club World Cup.

Rio Ferdinand is almost certain to miss out after suffering a back spasm during Wednesday's Champions League draw with Aalborg.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been officially nominated for the FIFA world player of the year award he is expected to win next month, is still troubled by a hip injury picked up against Sunderland last week.

In addition, former Tottenham duo Dimitar Berbatov, who left in acrimonious circumstances on deadline-day for a club record £30.75million, and Michael Carrick are struggling with Achilles and thigh problems respectively.

If that was not bad enough, Wayne Rooney is also suspended after, like Evra, amassing five bookings.

Rooney might be glad of some time out of the limelight after dominating the headlines for a couple of flashpoints in midweek that UEFA will not analyse fully until Monday.

Aalborg's players have not been backwards in offering an opinion, especially about a stamp on Kasper Risgard that referee Laurent Duhamel missed at the time.

Risgard claimed Rooney apologised after the final whistle, with some team-mates more condemnatory in their assessment.

Not for the first time, Ferguson feels a media-generated storm is brewing against his young striker.

"I am not going to discuss Wayne Rooney," he said.

"You press guys have created most of it. You are not getting anything from this club at all on Wayne Rooney. That is it, finished."

Unfortunately, it might not be the end of the matter if UEFA decide to bring a charge that would risk the England international being banned for the start of the knock-out phase when the Champions League resumes in February.

Rooney will be available for the Boxing Day trip to Stoke though, when Ferguson hopes the gap between United and leaders Liverpool has not grown too wide.

Ferguson is acutely aware his side's task at White Hart Lane is far harder than it would have been a couple of months ago, when Tottenham were languishing in the relegation zone and chairman Daniel Levy decided the situation was not going to improve under Juande Ramos.

The call went out to Redknapp, who immediately set about performing one of his famous miracle recovery acts.

Although the job is not complete yet, the signs are encouraging for Spurs, who have lost just two of their last 12 games in all competitions.

And it is easy for Ferguson to spot where Redknapp has had the most telling impact.

"His management style is just common sense," said the United boss.

"I heard his comments about making the training ground a happy place. Bringing the confidence back to players on the training ground transmits itself to performances in matches.

"That comes from the experience he has brought to the team."