Neville blast for 'erratic' FA
20 Dec 2008 - 12:03:35
Manchester United captain Gary Neville has issued a scathing assessment of the Football Association's disciplinary procedure after team-mate Patrice Evra's four-game ban.
The France full-back was handed the lengthy ban last week following a post-match clash with a member of Chelsea's groundstaff last season.
The Red Devils have opted not to appeal against Evra's punishment, despite having serious reservations over the decision reached by a disciplinary hearing.
Now Neville, a senior playing figure in the Professional Footballers' Association, has weighed into the issue after describing the disciplinary process as 'erratic' and 'inconsistent'.
"The disciplinary process is erratic, there is no doubt about that," he said.
"I gave up years ago being a voice to try and bring reason to certain things because it's a waste of time.
"You need consistency which means you need the same people sitting on a panel all the time; professionals who understand the game itself and the human element and passion within it.
"You need sensible people to make these decisions but that doesn't always happen.
"Three or four years ago I went down there and was left bemused. You just can't understand what's going on. It's not football and it's not right.
"You have got non-football people sitting on the panel opposite you who have no understanding of the game.
"The FA have tried to introduce football people onto these panels but they don't really have a say.
"The main decisions are made by the non-football people.
"It's more like a criminal case than a football disciplinary hearing from what I can see."