that article makes no sense at all
Neville attempts to make 4 points
1)Ferdinand was prejudged
Only a lawyer would make that argument, and he isn't.......he says that the FA banned Rio. That is just flat out erroneous. He was not considered for selection, and that's not semantics.
He then makes the bush lawyer argument that there have been similar infractions, but fails to point out if any of those involved an International with a game upcoming.
My understanding is that Rio can play in the league (pending the hearing's findings), which is consistent with the previous incidents to which he alluded.
2)Confidentiality
Is it not accurate that this incident occured long before the Turkey game and nobody knew about it. That strikes me as having the stench of confidentiality.
In other words they kept his name and actions private until they felt they had to act. I agree that by removing him from selection they effectively alerted the media to the incident, but is that really a breach of confidentiality?
3)loyalty and Collina
Neville says that he comes from a place where players/managers stand by you.
Oh really? Ask his mate about that...
He then has the gall to praise Collina, and none too subtlely alludes to the ManU/Arsenal game.
Why didn't he say that before?
Why wasn't he concerned about Keown when he was crucified and named as a discredit to English football.
Why didn't he say that the referee was wrong to act the way he did, and should have had a word with Vieria and Keane after the RVN incident?
I always knew the ManU boys silence meant they thought it was wrong
But maybe I made his point for him, now that I wrote about it.
I concede this point. I think he's actually saying that we cared more about being loyal to Rio than the facts, and we also think that the Arsenal bustup was nothing to suspend anyone for.
4)Who can judge us
he says "It cannot be right that senior councillors with allegiances to Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa and other clubs are in a position to influence the fate of a Manchester United player"
Do we really need to point out the folly.
Damn arrogance.