Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accused the Football Association of running a "dysfunctional" disciplinary system.
Less than two months after Rio Ferdinand was eventually banned for four games following a video review of his attack on Hull striker Craig Fagan at Old Trafford, United find they must face Steven Gerrard during Sunday's encounter with Liverpool, even though the Reds skipper appeared to commit two indiscretions recently that could have resulted in further action.
Instead, both an alleged V-sign to referee Andre Marriner in the recent defeat by Wigan and a nasty-looking challenge on Portsmouth's Michael Brown at Anfield on Monday have both gone unpunished. United manager Ferguson said: "I didn't expect anything to happen to Steven Gerrard. It (the disciplinary panel) is a dysfunctional unit. I don't know what they are doing."
Ferguson has long held the view that his side are disadvantaged in their dealings with the FA. The latest events will not have altered that opinion given Ferdinand had an additional match added to what would have been a three-game suspension for what was deemed to be a "frivolous" appeal over the Fagan incident.
At the time, Ferguson highlighted what he felt was a similar incident involving another Liverpool player, Javier Mascherano, at Leeds during a Carling Cup tie earlier in the campaign which, like the Gerrard situations, did not warrant any further attention.
"There is no consistency for a start and I didn't expect to get any," continued Ferguson. "I am not too bothered about it. They can do what they want down there. It is crazy at times."
