Neville critical of FA process

United skipper calls for consistency on disciplinary issues

Last updated: 20th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Neville critical of FA process

Neville: Critical

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Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes the Football Association's disciplinary process is 'erratic' and claims hearings are 'more like a criminal case'.

Neville's United team-mate Patrice Evra has been hit with a four-match ban by the FA for his part in an altercation with Chelsea's groundstaff at Stamford Bridge last season.

The Premier League champions are unhappy with the FA's verdict, but have decided against appealing the punishment.

And Neville has criticised the process at Soho Square, suggesting the people sitting on cases are not qualified to make an informed decision.

Human element

"The disciplinary process is, at best, erratic," said Neville.

"I gave up years ago trying to be a voice, trying to bring reason to certain things.

"You need consistency, which means you need the same people sitting at hearings all the time, professionals who understand the game, who understand the passion of the game, the human element of the game.

"You need sensible people but that doesn't always happen."

Neville feels the whole disciplinary system is a lottery, something he discovered from personal experience a number of years ago.

Bemused

"You haven't a clue what you're going to get when you go down there," he said.

"I was down there three or four years ago and I left bemused. I couldn't understand what was going on. It's not football for me, it's not right.

"You've got non-football people sitting on the panel, sitting opposite you with no understanding of the game and that's a problem.

"They've tried to introduce a more professional element but the main decisions are made by the non-football people.

"From what I can see it is more like a criminal case than a football disciplinary hearing."