GARY Neville has been fined '5,000 and warned about his future conduct by the Football Association following his wild celebrations at Manchester United's late winner against Liverpool last month.
The United captain was found guilty of improper conduct by an FA disciplinary hearing.
Neville did not attend the hearing in person but gave evidence via video link, yet was unable to clear his name.
The decision was not wholly unexpected and leaves Neville free to lead United into their Carling Cup final encounter at Wigan at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.
Disappointment
However, it will have come as a disappointment to the long-serving full-back - and other Old Trafford officials, including Sir Alex Ferguson who felt Neville had done little wrong.
Although he reacted to Rio Ferdinand's last-minute header by racing 50 yards towards Liverpool fans at Old Trafford before clutching his shirt and kissing the United badge, Neville felt it was purely an instant response to a moment of high excitement.
His conduct was defended by both Ferdinand and Ferguson, who said: 'Too much has been made of it.'
'What do we want our players to be? Cold fish who just walk back up the park and tie their boot laces on the half-way line, as everyone else is celebrating?'
As expected, Neville has reacted with disappointment to the decision and called on the FA to take a look at how they view the behaviour of players.
'I am extremely disappointed with the decision,' Neville said in a statement on the club's website.
'I believe it to be a poor decision, not only for me but for all footballers.
'Being a robot devoid of passion and spirit is obviously the way forward for the modern footballer.
'I ask the authorities where is football being taken to?'
Do you think the FA are too harsh on goal celebrations? Have your say.
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That works out at less than 1 day's wage for gary, I doubt he is going to lose much sleep over this fine.
He wont lose any sleep over it that for sure...
But why is Liverpoo FC beeing charge for constantly hurling coins, Big Macs and God know what onto the pitch during the game...
How about their 'very mature' supporters throwing the ball away as Gary went to take the throws-ins..? No special mention for this or what...?
Once again the FA shows what a bunch of idiots they really are.
5 grand? What a joke. When will the rest of England's clubs stop having to pay the price of Liverpool fans' inability to control themselves? Its always someone else's fault. I for one am sick of hearing about Liverpool fans being upset about someone or something just because they haven't learnt to control their emotions. I wish they would grow up.
is shoud have been "Why is Liverpool NOT beeing charged"...
Sorry, typo...
Never has kissing your club's badge been a serious offence as nowadays...
It seems that the common link between Liverpool, the beep and now the FA is working wonders again..
Fair enough for Gary to get his fine, by todays standards, he got what he deserved. But where is the press outrage at human excrement being thrown onto United fans away end, the taunting of Smith (after the game had ended as well, despite the reports to the contrary), 20 years of Munich chants, coins and food being thrown on the pitch, and away fans being attacked after the game. There are a lot of Liverpool fans who are sound, but there is a significant group of them who are well out of order and it never gets mentioned. If United fans so much as sneeze on a steward at an away fixture it is back page/front page news...
the f.a. has lost the plot 5000 quid for celebrating a goal, because the bin dippers are upset, the world`s gone mad.
Why is it that anytime any decision goes against United..it,s whine whine whine...they are so persucuted..yeah right,it,s just pathetic....no wonder no one can stand them except for there own.
They wanted to make a point, realised that it was a pathetic point and in true FA fashion they refused to back down. What is the point in fining a footballer 5 grand? To protect poor liverpool?
uou mancs still bitter after the weekend, dot cotton brought all the grief on himself, i hope he enjoyed his birthday... 1-0
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Whoever said it was about football.
HAVE YOU ALL WAITED & SEEN YET?
HAVE YOU SEEN ENOUGH?
Its getting to the point where a player will be fined or worse in the future for doing what incites the fans most ... and that is scoring a goal!!!!!!
he has got off too lightly cos he could have caused a riot.The Liverpool fans behind that goal need applauding for handling such vile incitement so well,shame on you Neville
Why cant he accept the punishment like the MAN he isn't? its about time his taunting was punished,behave yourself in future DOT COTTON,especially when you play against FIVE times EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS Liverpool?
The head of the FA Brian Barwiwick is a rabid Liverpool fan. In a week where the FA are shown to have cocked-up Wembley construction I am genuinely surprised that a more spiteful action was not taken against our captain.
THESE SO CALLED MOST SPORTING SUPPORTERS IN THE WORLD CAUSED THE DEATHS OF 39 JUVENTUS SUPPORTERS IN BELGIUM,WHICH LED TO ENGLISH CLUBS BEING BANNED FROM EUROPE FOR 5 YEARS,GUILTY. Then there was hillsborough and NOW THE WHOLE FOOTBALLING COUNTRY HAS TO SIT DOWN.BEFORE ANYBODY COMES BACK ON THE HILLSBORO CRAP, THE OFFICIAL ENQUIRY BLAMED THE SCOUSERS, AND RIGHTLY SO
Well no surprise there then!
Of course anyone who has anything remotely to do with United will swing!.
LATEST - Ten Liverpool fans have been arrested on suspicion of using counterfeit money ahead of the first leg of the Champions League knockout round tie against Benfica, Portuguese police on Tuesday.
Now that's a surprise!!!
Up The Reds
What did you expect? Where was the Lord High Everything of the FA before he got his present job? Could it have been a few miles down the East Lancs Road?
I would also like to know where the FA were after the disgusting behaviour of the Liverpool fans on Saturday. Obviously kissing a badge is far more dangerous and a greater threat to Health and Safety than throwing faeces, coins and the odd seat at people who are unable to get out of the way.
When I asked a police officer there what was going on his response was "Well -what do you expect me to do?" . Says it all really.
Did we really expect anything else. Until United and its players stop being at the beck and call of the FA, they will continue to use our media profile to make help justify themselves. Wouldn't we all laugh if all the Utd players stuck together and said in May, actually we've represented England and the FA through thick and thin, we've had enough, stuff the little England in the world cup, I'm staying at home and walking my dog.
As for the FA ever tackling fans concerns, the blatant cheating in the game, or the double standards, not called FA for no reason
Fowler raises 5 fingers, nowt, gerrard carragher run the length of the pitch at goodison after a goal, nowt, carragher throws a quid back at the arsneal fans nowt, of course we whine the FA stinks. 5 grand for kissing your badge what ever next.
Garry claims to be such a man for old traditional values.
Loyalty, Honour, Friendship etc
His love of family, country and his beloved Manchester United.
I wonder if he has read Jeff Connor's chillingly moving book "The Lost Babes" - and what he, and the current supporters come to that, think of the club having read it and become aware of the treachereous way the Munich victims were and still are being treated.
Garry, if he hasn't, and every United fan should read this sad history and reflect.
Manchester United took this country into European competition against the FA??<sup>TM</sup>s opinion back in the 50s. Liverpool??<sup>TM</sup>s wonderful fans got us kicked out in 1985. Liverpool fans love to remind us of records regarding how many Euro Cups they won. Wonder why they don??<sup>TM</sup>t remind us how many fans they have fans killed in Europe and at home? Shame on Gary for showing passion for the club he loves.
Nothing to comment on about this but wanted to throw in a name for a possible midfield purchase....thoughts on Toure of Olympiakos??? Was watching re-runs of their champions league run this year and everytime I watched him I couldnt help but think he would do the job we so desperately want. Any thoughts people???
I don't particularly like Neville but what kind of lame punishment is five grand? That kind of money would fall out of his 50p jar, and I'm still trying to work out what he's actually supposed to have done. How many footballers celebrate 'excessively' in front of away supporters nowadays? Nearly all, so either make an example everytime it happens or keep schtum. The FA is losing credibility with every episode.
Whats 5k to Neville this is a travesty. The guy was trying to provoke a riot. Its a disgrace!