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.

For quite some time now we have seen players waving imaginary cards around and asking for the opposition to be booked. I despise this act and think if the player wants to be making the decision that bad he should quit being a player and become a ref. 

I’ve said for sometime that I’d like this act to be cracked down upon but no one appeared to be doing anything about it. Step forward UEFA just before the latest round of Euro 2008 qualifiers and issue a directive saying that and player asking for another to be cautioned should themselves be cautioned.

EUFA also wanting to crack down dissent have said that at least one player should be booked if a group surround a referee.  I also agree with this and can only hope that the directives filter down into the leagues and up to FIFA.

As far as I’m concerned the FA should throw the book, followed by the kitchen sink at Ben Thatcher.  There is absolutely no call for the foul he committed against Pedro Mendes.  He should have been sent off by the ref and that would of made the aftermath easier for the FA to deal with.

Currently as it stands the FA have to deem this to be an exceptional case before they can suspend him or take any other action, as it stands all they can do is fine him if they decide it was reckless challenge.  Now I don’t want to see players suspended but I think this really does call for it. To knock a player out cold and have them fit on the way to hospital is unacceptable and must be eradicated from the game.

Ben Thatcher is also being investigated by the police and it has to be said that if you did that in the street you’d expect the police to have at least a passing interest.