Other Games 16th/17th March

[Chazza]

Deary me

FA statement "It has been confirmed that at least one of match officials saw the coming together, though not full extent of the challenge. "In these circumstances retrospective action cannot be taken."...so no punishment for McManaman. #bbcfootball

[Chazza]

Bet Newcastle look to drag this through the courts now.

Wigan forward Callum McManaman has escaped retrospective action from the Football Association over his challenge on Newcastle defender Massadio Haidara.
Haidara was taken off on a stretcher in the Latics' 2-1 win but the FA cannot take "retrospective action" as an official saw the incident take place.
The governing body says it does not wish to "re-referee" matches.
But Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias claims the FA's disciplinary process is " not fit for purpose".
Newcastle will contact the FA and the Premier League to ask for a change in the way such matters are handled.

The FA said: "Where one of the officials has seen a coming together of players, no retrospective action should be taken, regardless of whether he or she witnessed the full or particular nature of the challenge. This is to avoid the re-refereeing of incidents.
"In the case of McManaman, it has been confirmed that at least one of the match officials saw the coming together, though not the full extent of the challenge. In these circumstances retrospective action cannot be taken.
"The principal objective behind the 'not-seen' policy is to address off the ball incidents where match officials are unlikely to be in a position to witness misconduct."
On Monday it had been expected that McManaman would face further action from the FA.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan defended McManaman, telling BBC Sport that it was not a reckless challenge.
Newcastle are angered by the failure to take further action, as well as Whelan's comments.
Llambias added: "I am disappointed and surprised by the comments [Whelan] made, in particular his assertion that the tackle by Callum McManaman 'was a fair challenge'.

"It is our strongly held opinion that the tackle on Massadio was extremely dangerous and is the type of challenge that has the potential to cause serious harm and such was the force, and reckless and dangerous nature of the challenge, even end a player's career.
"It was not a fair challenge. This view is shared by countless former players, referees and well-respected media commentators. Indeed it appears to be only Dave Whelan who takes a contrary view.
"It is clear from this decision that the current disciplinary procedures are not fit for purpose. Newcastle United, along with other clubs, have had players suspended for incidents reviewed after the game.
"Whilst not trivialising these incidents, they were not, in our opinion, of the seriousness of Callum McManaman's tackle on Haidara.
"Whilst we understand that the current procedures give the FA limited options, it cannot be correct that the most serious offences - those which have the potential to cause another player serious harm - can go unpunished, even if the original incident was seen by match officials.
"We will now be making a strong representation to the FA and the Premier League to see how a more appropriate, fair and even-handed disciplinary process can be introduced at the earliest opportunity to prevent incidents of this nature going unpunished in the future."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21849733

[Kenneth]

Sense prevails.

you've got to assume the official that saw it is now on gardening leave.

[S-RED]

Thats just crazy, there are players that have been restrospectivley punished for seemingly trivial acts (of petulance, mainly) & the guy gets away with that tackle.............

Still i guess only a week after plug gets away with his assualt on Torres, the FA are on dodgy ground.

You wait, at the start of next season, they'll be throwing around bans for stupid incidents & by this time next year, it'll be back to this ****.

It's a continual cycle of mis-managment

[Chazza]

Just to rub it in John Carver has been charged with misconduct

[Kenneth]

[Scratch]

Glad that the lad hasn't been further dragged through the mire, the press have already torn him a new one. He's a young boy, when all is said and done, and went in full blooded for the ball, and was unfortunate in that he injured his opponent. I seem to remember that Gerrard was pretty reckless as a youngster, and we weren't so quick to slaughter him?

[Kenneth]

Remember a really bad one on Boateng. And Gerrard learned from it. Learned to keep his studs down, and:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgacT3HHMV4"]Steven Gerrard slide tackles Vermaelen - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dleIp8j_Ows"]Gerrard Double Tackle on Jagielka - YouTube[/ame]



Here it is (2:12)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx0DHVB2mNo"]Worst Football Tackles - YouTube[/ame]

[Muddled]

Whenever I think of Gerrard's 'tackles', this is the one that spings to mind:

[Fernandinho]

Was that macca and grobbelar going mental at each other?? What happened there?