Fergie hits out at FA

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, Manchester 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 to Wigan and a nasty-looking challenge on Portsmouth’s Michael Brown at Anfield on Monday have both gone unpunished.

United manager Ferguson said today: “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.”