Soccer: Neville has fine reduced

Manchester United defender Gary Neville has had his £30,000 fine for using foul and abusive language towards a match official reduced to £7,000 on appeal but his two-game ban will stand.

The Football Association’s independent appeal board agreed that the £30,000 fine was too high.

Neville, who arrived at the hearing on crutches because of a knee injury, was charged with misconduct following United’s FA Cup defeat at home to West Ham on January 28.

Neville was satisfied with the outcome of the appeal and he said: "They have reduced the fine from £30,000 to £7,000 and decided to keep the ban of two games.

"I think we’re happy that we have had a fair and full hearing.

"We just wanted a fair hearing and we believe we got that and in terms of reductions I think we can say we are happy with what we have achieved."

Paul Newman, the FA’s head of communications, claimed the three-man appeal board felt the £30,000 fine was too high.

Newman said: "The feeling was that the original fine was disproportionate and the panel took into consideration his good disciplinary record, not just over one season but a number of seasons.

"At the end of the day it was an offence involving offensive language towards a match official and the feeling of the panel was a two-match ban was the most appropriate penalty but that the fine was too high."

England defender Neville made his outburst at an assistant referee in the tunnel at Old Trafford at the end of United’s 1-0 FA Cup defeat against West Ham at the end of January.

The ban comes into effect on Monday and he will be suspended for the home match against Derby on Saturday week and the trip to Southampton on May 13.

However, Neville looked set to miss the games anyway after picking up the injury during training this week.