Neville, Ronaldo to face charges

MANCHESTER UNITED received a blow yesterday when, within half an hour of each other, the FA and UEFA served notice that Gary Neville and Cristiano Ronaldo respectively will face misconduct charges for recent misdemeanours.

Neville has until February 10 the answer an allegation of improper conduct over his wild celebrations following Rio Ferdinand’s late winner against Liverpool last weekend.

After reviewing the incident on video, referee Mike Riley has told Soho Square officials he would have yellow-carded Neville had he witnessed it at the time, while the concerns expressed by Greater Manchester Police compelled the FA to act.

However, it remains likely Neville will only be fined and as improper conduct offences are not part of the FA’s fast-track disciplinary system, the full-back is free to face Wolves in the FA Cup tie at Molineux on Sunday.

So too is Ronaldo now that he has served the three-match ban for his dismissal at Manchester City on January 14. However, his chances of appearing in the first game of United’s next European campaign are receding after UEFA finally decided to take action over the Portugal winger’s ‘one-fingered’ gesture to Benfica fans when he was replaced at the Stadium of Light during the Red Devils disastrous Champions League defeat last month.

The 20-year-old’s case will be heard at a disciplinary committee hearing in Barcelona next Thursday but given the dim view UEFA take of such offences, it would be a major surprise if he escaped punishment.

Meanwhile, Gary Neville is convinced a Carling Cup triumph over Wigan on February 26 can provide the springboard for another golden era at Manchester United.

Out of Europe and 14 points adrift of Chelsea, many would say Neville is clutching at straws in his attempt to stress the importance of the secondary domestic cup competition.

In its many guises, the League Cup has never been a particularly lucky competition for the Red Devils. Of five previous final appearances, United have scored a solitary success, a 1992 triumph over Nottingham Forest.

Alex Ferguson’s side went on to record a famous domestic double the following season and although Neville is wise enough not to predict a repeat, given Chelsea’s massive resources, the veteran England full-back does feel a win at the Millennium Stadium can fuel the hunger of a developing squad.

Although United have only gone one season without silverware, of the 16 men involved in Wednesday night’s semi-final victory against Blackburn, half have never collected a winners’ medal during their time at the club.

Their number include Wayne Rooney, a beaten finalist in last season’s FA Cup final, and Louis Saha, now top scorer in this year’s League Cup, who was cup-tied for United’s triumphant FA Cup run in 2004.

So Neville will be attempting to realise a dream and lift a trophy in Cardiff next month as Manchester United’s newly-installed skipper.