Source: Telegraph
Sir Alex Ferguson blasts FA for letting Liverpool's Steven Gerrard off the hook
Liverpool captain Gerrard is free to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday after avoiding a suspension for violent conduct following his clash with Brown during the 4-1 Anfield victory against Portsmouth. [LNB]With referee Stuart Attwell insisting he had witnessed the incident, hence his decision to award a free-kick to Portsmouth, the FA's disciplinary unit was unable to take further action against Gerrard. [LNB]Ferguson remains angry at the FA's decision to suspend Rio Ferdinand for four games earlier this season following an off-the-ball incident with Hull City's Craig Fagan, especially with Liverpool's Javier Mascherano escaping suspension for a virtually identical clash with Leeds forward Jermaine Beckford in September. [LNB]The FA has cited key differences between the cases, with referees Attwell and Alan Wiley claiming they had seen the Liverpool incidents and Steve Bennett having to review the Ferdinand incident on television after missing the clash during the game. [LNB]But Ferguson, who labelled the FA's compliance unit 'dysfunctional', claims the Gerrard case supports his claims that Liverpool are 'lucky' with disciplinary matters. [LNB]Ferguson said: "I didn't expect him [Gerrard] to be charged, simply because it is a dysfunctional unit at the FA. I don't think they know what they are doing. There is no consistency, so you don't expect to get any consistency. But I'm not bothered. They can do what they want down there, it's crazy at times. [LNB]"But I certainly think that, if it was a Manchester United player, he would have been done, as was the case with Rio Ferdinand. [LNB]"They [Liverpool] do all right. They are lucky like that. Maybe one day we will get lucky."[LNB]Despite Ferguson's comments, the FA admitted privately last night that they would not be seeking an explanation from the United manager for seemingly questioning the integrity of the disciplinary panel. [LNB]Ferguson insists, though, that the FA should shake up its compliance unit by turning to former managers for help. [LNB]He said: "There are about 20 redundant managers around who have had a good experience of the game, have good knowledge and have played the game. They could get involved. [LNB]"You could ask every manager in the league every week and they will tell you about inconsistency. [LNB]"So therefore I wonder if it's worth exploring the managers who don't have a job at the moment taking over that department. We could have maybe a body of four sitting every Sunday, assessing the TV issues of the weekend."[LNB]United face Liverpool aiming to end a run of three successive defeats against their foes from the other end of the East Lancs Road. [LNB]Last season's 4-1 humbling at Old Trafford almost cost United to the Premier League title, but Liverpool have failed to build on their form from the run-in 12 months ago, with Ferguson suggesting Rafael Benitez's team peaked last year. [LNB]He said: "Their challenge last year was obviously championship form but you sometimes peak with a particular team and it's difficult to do again. [LNB]"They had an exceptional season, but I thought it would be difficult to achieve that again. [LNB]"Everyone expected Liverpool to be better this season, but they are not and the challenge for them is to get that fourth spot."[LNB]Ferguson, who insists United are driven on by the prospect of becoming the first team to win four successive titles, has welcomed the return to action of Owen Hargreaves in the reserves, but he warned the 29 year-old to put club before country. [LNB]Ferguson said: "There is nothing wrong with talking about the World Cup, but he should be concentrating on United, and he will do that." [LNB]
