Manchester United will today appeal against the English FA's decision to ban Gary Neville for two games and fine him £30,000 for his behaviour at the end of their FA Cup fourth-round defeat to West Ham.
Neville could miss the Premiership games against Liverpool and Charlton after being found guilty at an FA disciplinary hearing yesterday of using foul and abusive language towards one of the assistant referees.
Alex Ferguson is incensed by the decision, and has authorised the club's lawyers to take the matter to an appeal hearing.
"We are extremely shocked by the severity of this punishment," said Scott Duxbury, the solicitor representing Neville. "We believe it is totally out of line with other recent high-profile cases, not least when Patrick Vieira received a one-match ban after being charged with violent conduct for kicking Olivier Dacourt in the head."
Neville clearly did not expect to receive this level of punishment, stating earlier this week that he expected the FA to be "fair and consistent, bearing in mind recent cases". He added: "Mine is a minor case and not one of violent conduct, where only one-match suspensions have been given recently."
Neville should, however, have been aware that the FA's chief executive Adam Crozier recently advised disciplinary panels to take a tough stance against player misbehaviour.
Ferguson, meanwhile, is to make an appeal to the club's supporters not to stand up during games after learning that parts of Old Trafford could be closed down because of concerns about safety.
A delegation from Trafford Council will attend next Tuesday's Champions League game against Sturm Graz to monitor whether safety regulations are being breached. If they find that to be the case, sections of the 67,500-capacity stadium will be temporarily closed and, because the council would have to give three weeks' notice, that could affect the derby game against Manchester City on April 21st.
"There is the serious possibility of an accident and the council cannot afford to turn a blind eye," said councillor Barry Brotherton.
