Fatherhood has smoothed me out somewhat over the last couple of years and I seldom feel irritated enough to spend an hour writing about the laughable horseshit I hear & read in the sports press, but I've been listening to Shaun Custis talking utter drivel all week and feel compelled to raise one particular issue regarding certain comments he (and others on the panel) made on Radio 5's MotD2 extra today.
So, Yaya Toure's "kick" on Ricky van Wolfswinkel; cards on the table, I watched the game live and in the manner of Arsene Wenger I really didn't see what happened: it all looked pretty innocuous to me in real time, if I'm totally honest, as many of these incidents do.
However, when seen in super slo-mo, the smart-arses on the sidelines cry "how did the ref miss THAT???" as they show the incident for the 14th time from another angle that the ref couldn't possibly see due to the intractable laws of physics.
All that notwithstanding, we can look at the incident retrospectively either way; as I understand it, if the ref has genuinely missed something, the door is open for the FA to act. If not... who knows? The FA seem to make that sort of shit up as they go along, but with the press howling that they should take action I have a pretty good idea what is likely to happen.
But let's assume the ref saw it and didn't notice anything untoward, hence letting play continue without action, what happens then? Do we simply consider the video evidence, and charge a player purely on this subjective basis?
Well, let's look at another incident on the 29/01/2014 where Tottenham Hotspur hosted City. If you follow either club you'll be aware of the incident I'm talking about but I'll quote Sam Wallace of the Independent:
(The Independent) Tottenham 1 Manchester City 5 match report: City charge to the top of the Premier League after five-goal demolition of 10-man Spurs
"..Martin Demichelis was unfortunate that referee Marriner did not get a proper sight of his challenge on Adebayor late in the first half. At first glance it looked like a foul by the City defender but it became clear from the replays that Adebayor had seen him coming and stamped down on his opponent."
So that's one paragraph on the incident. If you're as dull as I am please have a quick Google and see if you can find the press outcry to have this wrong put right via retrospective action. I will make the point right now that I couldn't give a shiny shite, but ponder this from way back in September 2009:
(The Guardian) Robin van Persie accuses Emmanuel Adebayor of 'malicious' stamp
Manchester City's sensational 4-2 victory over Arsenal, maintaining their 100% winning start to the season, was soured tonight when Arsenal's Robin van Persie accused his former team-mate, Emmanuel Adebayor, of committing a "mindless and malicious stamp" on him.
Adebayor, who scored City's third goal, looked lucky to stay on the field in the 70th minute when his apparent assault went unseen by referee Mark Clattenburg. Replays suggested that Adebayor knew what he was doing when his right foot made contact with a prone Van Persie, though he denied it after the game. If Clattenburg confirms he did not see the incident, the FA could ban Adebayor on video evidence.
There was clearly contact close to the Dutchman's eye and he needed treatment for a facial wound. Van Persie said: "I knew he was aiming for a collision because he changed the angle of his body to allow contact to be made.
"He moved backwards when his natural momentum would have taken him forward. I find that deeply disrespectful. He has shown a real lack of class today, to me and the fans."
(CNN) -- Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has been handed a three-match suspension for his stamp on Arsenal's Robin Van Persie last weekend.
Adebayor has also been charged for his goal celebration in last Saturday's defeat of Arsenal.
The Togo captain decided not to challenge the charge of violent conduct, so received a fast-track punishment from the English Football Association, which means he will miss this weekend's Manchester derby.
The 25-year-old still faces another charge, of improper conduct, relating to City's 4-2 Premier League victory against his former club on Saturday. Adebayor -- Hero or villain?
Adebayor raced the length of the field at City's Eastlands stadium to celebrate in front of the visiting Arsenal supporters after scoring the third goal, and was pelted with items including a plastic seat.
The hearing for the second charge has yet to be set by the FA.
Right; so that's the same player, involved in two similar incidents, but why were the outcomes so very different?
I'm not an advocate of conspiracy theories (or "a gooner" as they are typically known in the football vernacular) so I do not for one second believe that match officials are corrupt, but there seems to be an unwritten rule at the FA (which we don't talk about, dig?) which goes "leave well alone, unless the press decide it's REALLY serious, then make up a new rule where you can justify retrospective action on the basis of the press's reported seriousness of the incident"
And so onto Yaya Toure, courtesy of the Sunday Mirror. I wonder what the FA will do?
Any ban for talismanic midfielder accused of lashing out at Ricky van Wolfswinkel as the Dutchman lay on the pitch would dent Etihad side's title hopes
Action
Spinal flap: Did Yaya Toure whack Ricky van Wolfswinkel off the ball?
Yaya Toure faces the threat of an FA investigation after an alleged off-the-ball kick at Ricky Van Wolfswinkel.
Manchester City midfielder Toure appeared to direct a knee into the back of the Norwich striker as he lay on the floor in injury-time as the Blues blew their chance to go top of the Premier League with a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road.
BBC pundit Garth Crooks insisted: “Yaya Toure definitely kicks Van Wolfswinkel, and he should have gone! What do the FA do now? That’s clearly violent conduct.”
Norwich manager Chris Hughton added: “I have not seen it but he is a strong character, Ricky. He is not one to normally complain, he generally gets on with it.
"If that was the case, then people will have seen it, but I have not as yet.”
The FA will review replays of the flashpoint before they decide whether to take retrospective action.
