Disciplinary Process Confuses Ferguson

The FA is giving off mixed signals over the way that they handle disciplinary cases according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Utd’s Rio Ferdinand starts a four match ban at the weekend after a disciplinary panel decided that he had no grounds to appeal his violent conduct charge for an elbow on Craig Fagan.

“There are conflicting ways in which these decisions are being viewed,” Ferguson said.

“I watched the game between Leyton Orient and Charlton on Monday and there was an elbow on the Charlton player three times as he was running with the ball.

“But nothing has happened with that.

There is a lot of confusion there, although we accept that Rio is banned.”

Ferdinand will miss Utd’s trip to the Emirates on Sunday, as well as the league games against Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Everton.

What do you make of Ferguson’s comments and do you think United’s defence will be able to deal with Arsenal in Rio’s absence?

By Harry Veal