FA promises to lay down law over injured players

[Boogs]

Players and managers are to receive clarification from the FA this week after the controversial incident in the Community Shield, when Patrice Evra, the Manchester United defender, lay on the ground, apparently injured, as Chelsea scored.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, claimed that Chris Foy, the referee, should have blown for a free kick against Michael Ballack, who had fouled Evra, or at least stopped the game to enable Evra to be treated.

Foy let play continue and, with United in possession, played the advantage law. Yet Chelsea swiftly won the ball, counter-attacked and Frank Lampard gave them a 2-1 lead.

In a post-match debriefing involving the Premier League and the FA, under whose auspices the Community Shield is run, concern was expressed that players and managers still appear not to have grasped a key element of the Fair Play convention, which has been in force for three years. Item 9 of the directives deals with a “player injured while ball in play”. It states: “PLAY ON unless referee stops play”.

However, teams have persisted in making judgments themselves by kicking the ball out to stop the game when a player seems to be injured.

Foy's failure to penalise Ballack has been seen as an “honest mistake”. Evra was not seriously injured, despite clutching his face as he fell. With the Barclays Premier League season starting on Saturday, the FA is keen for the issue - a perennial “grey area” - to be clarified.

No action will be taken against Ferguson, who made his feelings known to Foy after the 2-2 draw and, later, in the media. Chelsea won the penalty shoot-out 4-1. United are also likely to escape punishment for a group of their players surrounding Foy in protest after the Lampard goal.

Senior refereeing officials believe that the FA's Respect programme remains on track. A series of pre-season meetings with referees received a 100 per cent turnout from Premier League managers. Last season, there were 63 dismissals in the Premier League. In La Liga and Serie A, the figures were 148 and 116 respectively.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle6790793.ece

Could not see this posted anywhere else....

Yet another rule they will in force for a few weeks before it goes by the way side.
It will be another instance of the Scum getting a goal against them and old **** head getting the ump and then it will be forgotton about.

[Kenneth]

"concern was expressed that players and managers still appear not to have grasped a key element of the Fair Play convention" What about the main element, which is not surrounding the ref and harassing him if a decision doesn't go you way, as UTD did yet again in the CS. When a team is coached in showing a lack of respect, it needs tackling head on.

[Exiled_red]

This rule has been around for ages. The thing that still gets me about these issues is that as a kid learning football one of the first things you learn is to play to the whistle. Why is it such a difficult concept for professional footballers to grasp?

Also why does Ferguson get away with his actions again?

[shelly]

"concern was expressed that players and managers still appear not to have grasped a key element of the Fair Play convention" What about the main element, which is not surrounding the ref and harassing him if a decision doesn't go you way, as UTD did yet again in the CS. When a team is coached in showing a lack of respect, it needs tackling head on.

[FA] It's Fair Play if Sir Alex Ferguson says it is [/FA]

[Assassin]

No action will be taken against Ferguson, who made his feelings known to Foy after the 2-2 draw and, later, in the media.