Mascherano charged by FA

[TheStig]

The most galling aspect of all of this is the fact that refs don't have to explain themselves. In what other profession can you make a decision and not have to justify it? Some of the better refs will go the extra mile and talk to the players, but there are those that get offended when questioned. This has to stop, and refs should have to explain their decision to the captains.

Everyone's been bleeting on about it all week, but it's time to look at how rugby manage their officials and make them accountable for their decisions.

Down off the pedestal gentlemen.

[Marky]

Ffs.

[mersey86]

Yes the Ref was an absolute ****** -no argument there

Masch was an idiot for even getting involved though, esp knowing the ref was just itching that we should be 'respecting his authoritay' (ala South Parks Cartman)... & once you've been told to go you should walk - irrespective of the rights or wrongs of the decision..... the hissy fit was out of order & embarrassing

He'll learn & hopefully won't do it again. Lets get it out of the way & move on

Sums it up for me.

[Exiled_red]

What I don't understand is why Ashley Cole hasn't been charged, from what I read he was booked for the foul, the dissent and subsequent behaviour was ignored and not even mentioned in the referees report. As I understand the FA rules mean if he's already been punished for an offence, the punishment cannot be subsequently increased (ie yellow card can't become red). But the video panel rules were the opposite they were there to punish people for offences not seen at the time or not dealt with by the officials, now if Ref didn't mention it in his report I thought he could be punished subsequently.

So why is Mascherano being punished and Cole not, surely the FA have the power to punish both and at least make it look even handed

[frank the tank]

reason cole wasnt charged is because he was shown a yellow and once the game is over, the fa (under their ****e rules) can't change the ref's original punishment. Masher is being charged for not leaving the pitch straight away.....its not for the original dissent issue

[Fiddy]

well hopefully we'll at least have the brains to appeal so he can play against Arsenal...knowing the FA with a bit of luck that might even hold things up til next season

[Scratch]

well hopefully we'll at least have the brains to appeal so he can play against Arsenal...knowing the FA with a bit of luck that might even hold things up til next season

Problem is, we have no grounds for appeal, in that Mascher is being charged for failing to leave the pitch, so any appeal will most likely be treated as "frivilous" (as in the Aliadiaire case for 'Boro) and result in an extended ban.

Is it worth keeping Mascher on for the Arsenal game, a game that is sandwiched between two CL games and so will probably feature some rotation anyway, and risk losing him for more matches afterwards?

[Johnny]

Bennet was at fault as the 4th official during the Cole incedent,how was he given the ref job for `pool-manure is beyond me.

[Guest]

Bennet was at fault as the 4th official during the Cole incedent,how was he given the ref job for `pool-manure is beyond me.

It's pointless debating about that because it's in the past now. Macher should have known better and kept his emotions in check. Would have spared us all this trouble.

[dawmdt]

As I understand the FA rules mean if he's already been punished for an offence, the punishment cannot be subsequently increased (ie yellow card can't become red). But the video panel rules were the opposite they were there to punish people for offences not seen at the time or not dealt with by the officials, now if Ref didn't mention it in his report I thought he could be punished subsequently.

reason cole wasnt charged is because he was shown a yellow and once the game is over, the fa (under their ****e rules) can't change the ref's original punishment.

To be fair the FA were using the video evidence to change decisions (yellows to reds etc) but it was FIFA that stepped in and said they couldn't as it undermined the ref's if the FA were reviewing incidents where the ref had already made a decision

I agree ref's should be afforded some kind of "break" against having every decision reviewed and appealed and I think the FA's original system of using video evidence for the more serious incidents was a perfect compromise. This attitude from FIFA that ref's can do no wrong must go.

[DeeTheDog]

I am very myopic when it comes to Liverpool; however, everyone watching knew that Masch was going to end up being sent off. We are a victim of circumstance to some degree but if another team's player acted similarly after being sent off, would we be defending him?

It is ironic, that we have for years had one the best disciplinary records and no history of haranguing referees and we will be the ones to be made an example of.

I hope that it is a lesson learned, it will keep him fresh and focused on the two Champions' league games.

[AFII]

reason cole wasnt charged is because he was shown a yellow and once the game is over, the fa (under their ****e rules) can't change the ref's original punishment. Masher is being charged for not leaving the pitch straight away.....its not for the original dissent issue

They could have charged Cole for bringing the game into disrepute if they had wanted to even if the ref booked him during the game.

It has happened many times that the FA have charged someone for that even that he has been booked.

Gerrard was punished once and banned after the game when he got a yellow if I remember things right.

What the FA can't do is to change a yellow to a red card or a red to a yellow but they can as I said charge someone for bringing the game into disrepute.

This whole mess shows how much the FA licks the ass of ManU and Chelsea.

[saveferris]

What I don't understand is why Ashley Cole hasn't been charged, from what I read he was booked for the foul, the dissent and subsequent behaviour was ignored and not even mentioned in the referees report. As I understand the FA rules mean if he's already been punished for an offence, the punishment cannot be subsequently increased (ie yellow card can't become red). But the video panel rules were the opposite they were there to punish people for offences not seen at the time or not dealt with by the officials, now if Ref didn't mention it in his report I thought he could be punished subsequently.

So why is Mascherano being punished and Cole not, surely the FA have the power to punish both and at least make it look even handed

This is where my frustrations lie. Cole also displayed improper conduct towards an official. They made the excuse that he had been dealt with on the field. So had masher, both examples of petulance came after the initial incident.

[Kenneth]

This is where my frustrations lie. Cole also displayed improper conduct towards an official. They made the excuse that he had been dealt with on the field. So had masher, both examples of petulance came after the initial incident.

And then he 'refused' to leave the pitch after the ref had done his bit.

[saveferris]

Which i also said. Both players showed petulance following or during action taken by the ref. Both should be charged for improper conduct towards officials.