Offside Ref

So the FA have decided to let Defoe off the hook for the whole biting thing saying that FIFA rules don’t allow them to punish him sufficiently because the ref has already punished him. I got one thing to say, It’s a totally cop out and rubbish.

I was quite surprised that a lot of people are divided over this and appear to fall into one of two camps. The ‘it was nothing, play on’ brigade or the ‘Physical abuse is not allowed, punish him’ brigade (I’m in). For me it’s a cut and dry case any attempt to cause hurt is violent conduct (That’s an automatic red card according to the laws of the game).

Now biting can hurt even if it doesn’t leave a mark, so claims of he wasn’t even marked don’t wash with me. Is it acceptable for someone to even try and bite you in the street? No, so why should it be on the football field. If you are fouled on the pitch then the ref deals with it, you don’t retaliate. Martin Jol’s nibble comments are total crap, what does he think Defoe was trying, foreplay?

Ref’s are only human (they sometimes make mistakes) so the fact he didn’t send of Defoe although disappointing is understandable but the FA have to follow through, which they haven’t done and that is very disappointing.

Clearly Jermain Defoe forgot to eat his Monster Munch crisps before going to play football and decided instead to try and eat West Ham’s Mascherano.  So I’m nominating Jermain Defoe and Martin Jol as my Villains of the week.  Defoe for attempting to eat Mascherano and Jol for trying to defend Defoe’s action.

This case like other recent incidents presents the FA with a problem since the rules don’t allow for action to be taken on offences that have already received punishment, despite the fact that the punishment may not have been appropriate. Although the FA have in exceptional cases ignored this rule.

Personally I think that the panel that sits and looks at video evidence should be allowed to over rule any decision based on what they have seen. Players can already be exonerated, why not the other way?  It may keep some honest if they know will get caught and punished, though I doubt it.