England captain Michael Vaughan is contemplating legal action against the International Cricket Council after match referee Clive Lloyd fined him the entire match fee for his "inappropriate comments" against the umpires during the Johannesburg Test against South Africa.

Vaughan has asked the Professional Cricketers' Association for advice regarding the legal action, according to a report in Daily Telegraph on Monday.

The skipper was charged with a level two offence, a relatively minor transgression for which there is no appeals procedure -- a player can only appeal if he has been charged with a level three of a level four offence.

PCA Chief Executive Richard Bevan argued that the ICC's ruling, which came yesterday, was inconsistent with its own guidelines.

"If you're going to fine somebody 100 per cent of their match fee, then that is no longer a minor offence," Bevan said.

"We're going to call for a total review of the ICC's disciplinary process, insisting on a right of appeal for level one and two offences. We hope the ICC will realise that they've got it wrong. If they don't recognise that, we may be taking legal advice."

Lloyd's action has also drawn flak from many former players including Ian Botham.

Also read: Did Lloyd overstep his line?

"Instead of putting just players and coaches on charges in a kangaroo court, why not apply the same code of conduct to umpires when they make a cock-up?" Botham said.