Steven Gerrard Escapes FA Action: How Was His Offence Different Than Rio's?

It has been announced that Steven Gerrard will not face FA disciplinary action for his foul on Michael Brown in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Portsmouth.

Gerrard appeared to strike Brown with his forearm whilst challenging for the ball in the latter stages of the match. Brown appeared to claim that Gerrard deserved a three-match ban for the foul, which he argued was violent conduct. Gerrard was substituted immediately afterward.

If Gerrard had been punished for violent conduct, he would have served a three match ban, which would have ruled him out of Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford on Sunday. The Liverpool skipper also recently avoided punishment for a "V" sign at Andre Marriner.

The decision not to pursue sanction will likely anger Sir Alex Ferguson, who is likely to point to the fact that Rio Ferdinand was punished for a similar offence. Ferdinand served a three match ban for swinging an arm at Hull striker Craig Fagan , which was later extended to four games after Ferdinand’s subsequent appeal was deemed to be "frivolous."

There is a simple difference in these two instances, though.

When Gerrard committed the foul, referee Stuart Atwell saw it and gave a free kick to Portsmouth. Andre Marriner also saw the hand gesture against Wigan and noted it in his report. Ferdinand’s offence was caught on camera and went unseen by the ref.

According to FA regulations, players cannot be retrospectively punished for an offence if the referee saw it during the match. This rule is in place primarily to safeguard decision making, the logic being that it is the referee’s decision during the game to dictate sanction, and to alter these decisions would undermine their authority.

So whilst conspiracy theorists might claim that Gerrard is receiving special treatment because he is the most recent holder of the England captain’s armband, or that there are double standards when Man Utd are involved, the FA can simply point to this regulation.

That probably won’t stop Fergie in his Thursday press conference, though.