By Soccernet staff
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March 19, 2010
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Sir Alex Ferguson has begun the war of words
ahead of Sunday's Premier League showdown with Liverpool by
accusing the Football Association's disciplinary panel of being
"dysfunctional'' after Steven Gerrard escaped censure for the second time
in a matter of weeks.
Steven Gerrard and Michael Brown clashed at Anfield
It comes after Rio Ferdinand was forced to accept a three-match FA
ban for throwing an arm at Hull City striker Craig Fagan off the ball. Ferdinand was then handed
an extra one-match ban for what was deemed to be a "frivolous''
appeal.
But Gerrard has not been so unfortunate. First, he appeared to
flick a V-sign in the direction of referee Andre Marriner as
Liverpool lost at Wigan, and then the England international
seemingly launched an elbow towards Portsmouth's Michael Brown on Monday.
Gerrard will face no further action over either incident.
Ferguson believes it smacks of double standards, with two players
being treated completely differently for similar incidents.
"I didn't expect anything to happen to Steven Gerrard. It (the
disciplinary panel) is a dysfunctional unit," he said. "I don't
know what they are doing.''
Ferguson had already highlighted what he felt was a similar
incident involving Javier Mascherano at Leeds during a Carling Cup tie
earlier in the campaign.
"There is no consistency for a start and I didn't expect to get
any,'' Ferguson added. "I am not too bothered about it. They can do
what they want down there. It is crazy at times.''
Although he gave Rafael Benitez plenty of credit for
masterminding Liverpool's challenge last term, the Scot always had
a feeling it was the best that Reds team could manage.
"Sometimes you peak with a particular team and it is difficult
to do it again,'' said Ferguson. "Everyone expected Liverpool to do
better. But they are not. Their challenge, along with quite a few
others, is to get that fourth spot, which seems to be a league of
its own.''
"It happens every season. It is not something new.''
Ferguson certainly believes there will be no repeat of the 4-1
defeat United suffered at the hands of their old rivals in the
corresponding game last term.
"Last season was a one-off,'' said Ferguson. "It won't happen
again. I can assure you of that. Absolutely no chance.
"Being on top of the league at this stage of this season would
make us difficult to get back at. I don't place that much
importance on the 19th title. The more important one would be the
20th. This club is capable of doing that.
Na bei, that old cheat
complain so much. Why not tell it to their David Gill? surely he
can "do something".
