Post by QPR Report on Dec 18, 2008 7:54:39 GMT
Telegraph/Henry Winter
FA's d**ning verdict on Manchester United
Manchester United have been accused of giving “unreliable" and “exaggerated" evidence by the FA disciplinary commission which investigated the fracas between United players and Chelsea’s ground staff in April.
Chaired by Nicholas Stewart QC and heard by Barry Bright, Roy Carter and David Pleat, the commission’s findings, printed in a 22-page document seen by Telegraph Sport, are d**ning of Evra’s behaviour, much of his evidence and some of the testimony given by United first-team coach, Mike Phelan, and goalkeeping coach, Richard Hartis.
Although the commission found Evra guilty of violent conduct, banning him for four Premier League matches and fining him £15,000 when they delivered their verdict on Dec 5, the full details of the unseemly episode were not made public.
United reacted angrily to the commission’s judgement when it was announced earlier this month, threatening to appeal against what they described as “excessive” sanctions. They have since dropped any plans to contest the ruling.
And while Chelsea were fined £25,000 for their part in the affair - failing to ensure their groundsman Sam Bethell behaved appropriately - United’s claim that Evra had been racially abused by members of their staff were thrown out by the commission.
Trouble flared when seven United players, including Evra and Gary Neville, were led by their fitness coach, Tony Strudwick, on a warm-down at Stamford Bridge on April 26. The commission observed that “a number of United players were in a rather wound-up state’’ because they had lost the match. “Gary Neville in particular was behaving in an abusive and provocative manner towards Chelsea ground staff,” the commission noted.
They go on to state that warming down in the goalmouth “was not a good judgment’’ by Strudwick, who was approached by [chief groundsman] Jason Griffin and asked to move.
In their evidence to the commission United claimed that Griffin threatened Strudwick with a pitchfork and that Chelsea’s staff drove aggressively at them with lawn mowers.
The report states: “Strudwick’s account is that Mr Griffin 'was carrying a pitchfork and his body language supported an angry demeanour’.’’
According to the FA commission, Evra then ran across and barged Griffin over. “Evra told Mr Griffin to put his fork down and Griffin replied, 'I’ll shove the ------- fork up your ----’."
However, this version of events was emphatically rejected by the FA commission.
“The clear implication by Evra that Griffin’s pitchfork gave some reason for concern about Strudwick’s safety is ridiculous,” it said. “We find Evra’s account exaggerated and unreliable. It is an attempt to justify a physical intervention by him which cannot reasonably be justified.’’
As the confrontation escalated Evra barged into Griffin and a “fracas’’ broke out, also involving Sam Bethell, one of Griffin’s assistants.
It is at this point, United alleged Bethell called Evra a “------- immigrant”, a claim Chelsea angrily denied.
The FA concluded: “Our finding is the alleged racist remark by Mr Bethell was not made”.
And while the commission plays down the seriousness of Evra’s attack on Bethell, they are nevertheless in no doubt that it constituted violent conduct.
The report says: “It is not even clear whether it was a true punch or more of a slap. It is probably best described [as] a clip. That is violent conduct.’’
What is so damaging for United is the extent to which the report condemns the evidence given by their key witnesses, most notably Phelan.
“Mr Phelan particularly did not impress us. The inconsistencies in [his] evidence ... are not just the normal expected uncertainty about detail. They cast serious doubt on the reliability of their overall evidence.”
FA's d**ning verdict on Manchester United
Manchester United have been accused of giving “unreliable" and “exaggerated" evidence by the FA disciplinary commission which investigated the fracas between United players and Chelsea’s ground staff in April.
Chaired by Nicholas Stewart QC and heard by Barry Bright, Roy Carter and David Pleat, the commission’s findings, printed in a 22-page document seen by Telegraph Sport, are d**ning of Evra’s behaviour, much of his evidence and some of the testimony given by United first-team coach, Mike Phelan, and goalkeeping coach, Richard Hartis.
Although the commission found Evra guilty of violent conduct, banning him for four Premier League matches and fining him £15,000 when they delivered their verdict on Dec 5, the full details of the unseemly episode were not made public.
United reacted angrily to the commission’s judgement when it was announced earlier this month, threatening to appeal against what they described as “excessive” sanctions. They have since dropped any plans to contest the ruling.
And while Chelsea were fined £25,000 for their part in the affair - failing to ensure their groundsman Sam Bethell behaved appropriately - United’s claim that Evra had been racially abused by members of their staff were thrown out by the commission.
Trouble flared when seven United players, including Evra and Gary Neville, were led by their fitness coach, Tony Strudwick, on a warm-down at Stamford Bridge on April 26. The commission observed that “a number of United players were in a rather wound-up state’’ because they had lost the match. “Gary Neville in particular was behaving in an abusive and provocative manner towards Chelsea ground staff,” the commission noted.
They go on to state that warming down in the goalmouth “was not a good judgment’’ by Strudwick, who was approached by [chief groundsman] Jason Griffin and asked to move.
In their evidence to the commission United claimed that Griffin threatened Strudwick with a pitchfork and that Chelsea’s staff drove aggressively at them with lawn mowers.
The report states: “Strudwick’s account is that Mr Griffin 'was carrying a pitchfork and his body language supported an angry demeanour’.’’
According to the FA commission, Evra then ran across and barged Griffin over. “Evra told Mr Griffin to put his fork down and Griffin replied, 'I’ll shove the ------- fork up your ----’."
However, this version of events was emphatically rejected by the FA commission.
“The clear implication by Evra that Griffin’s pitchfork gave some reason for concern about Strudwick’s safety is ridiculous,” it said. “We find Evra’s account exaggerated and unreliable. It is an attempt to justify a physical intervention by him which cannot reasonably be justified.’’
As the confrontation escalated Evra barged into Griffin and a “fracas’’ broke out, also involving Sam Bethell, one of Griffin’s assistants.
It is at this point, United alleged Bethell called Evra a “------- immigrant”, a claim Chelsea angrily denied.
The FA concluded: “Our finding is the alleged racist remark by Mr Bethell was not made”.
And while the commission plays down the seriousness of Evra’s attack on Bethell, they are nevertheless in no doubt that it constituted violent conduct.
The report says: “It is not even clear whether it was a true punch or more of a slap. It is probably best described [as] a clip. That is violent conduct.’’
What is so damaging for United is the extent to which the report condemns the evidence given by their key witnesses, most notably Phelan.
“Mr Phelan particularly did not impress us. The inconsistencies in [his] evidence ... are not just the normal expected uncertainty about detail. They cast serious doubt on the reliability of their overall evidence.”