Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson says that he fully expected Steven Gerrard to escape without any punishment for his recent alleged acts of ill-discipline because he feels that the Football Association is a "dysfunctional unit".
Gerrard was accused of flicking a 'v-sign' at referee Andre Marriner during Liverpool's defeat at Wigan last Monday week and then sparked further controversy by appearing to strike Michael Brown in Monday's win over Portsmouth at Anfield.
However, the England midfielder was not called to question over either incident because the officials in question on both occasions said that they had seen the incidents and decided that they had now warranted any further action, meaning he is free to face United in Sunday's Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Ferguson, who lost defender Rio Ferdinand to a retrospective ban earlier this year, feels that both of the cases involving Gerrard only serve to highlight the flaws in the FA's disciplinary system.
"I didn't expect them to be charging Steven Gerrard simply because I think it is a dysfunctional unit, the FA," he said. "I don't think they know what they are doing.
"There is no consistency for a start. I didn't expect to get any.
"I am not too bothered about it. They can do what they want down there. It is crazy at times."