Ferguson Calls FA 'Dysfunctional'

Sir Alex Ferguson has called the Football Association "dysfunctional" for its handling of incidents involving Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard.

The Manchester United manager was angry after Ferdinand got a four-match ban for a challenge on Hull's Craig Fagan.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's Gerrard was not punished for an alleged V-sign or an elbow on Portsmouth's Michael Brown, freeing him to face United on Sunday.

"There is no consistency," said Ferguson. "It is a dysfunctional unit."

Liverpool captain Gerrard has been under scrutiny twice this month, firstly for appearing to flash a V-sign at referee Andre Marriner during the 1-0 defeat to Wigan on 8 March.

A week later, he seemed to strike Brown with an elbow in the second half of the Reds' 4-1 victory over Portsmouth.

Both incidents were seen by the referee during the match, making the FA powerless to apply retrospective punishment.

"I didn't expect anything to happen to Steven Gerrard," said Ferguson. "It [the FA disciplinary panel] is a dysfunctional unit. I don't know what they are doing."

Ferdinand received a three-match ban after the FA reviewed video evidence of a clash in which he appeared to swing an arm into Fagan.

The punishment was increased to four games after his appeal was rejected as "frivolous".

At the time, Ferguson likened the incident to a challenge by Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano in a Carling Cup tie against Leeds, which, like the Gerrard situations, went unpunished.

"There is no consistency for a start and I didn't expect to get any," continued Ferguson.

"I am not too bothered about it. They can do what they want down there. It is crazy at times."

Premier League leaders United host Liverpool on Sunday in a match which could go a long way towards determining whether Ferguson's men can surpass the Reds by claiming a 19th top-flight title this season.