Over the course of the last week we’ve seen why the FA’s disciplinary procedures simply have to change after two incidents involving Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur players. Somehow Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye managed to pick up a three-match ban for a clash with Brighton’s Adam El-Abd, while Tottenham’s Benoit Assou-Ekotto got off scot-free for his horrendous challenge on Wigan’s Franco Di Santo. How can this be right?
French midfielder Yohan Cabaye kicked out in his FA Cup match, but I’m not sure you could describe the incident as malicious. Alan Pardew was understandably livid with the FA’s decision to ban the 26-year-old and he can’t have been much happier when Newcastle’s appeal was rejected. Cabaye’s foot just grazed El-Abd’s face, leaving the Brighton defender with a cut lip. You can’t say the same about Assou-Ekotto’s tackle.
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While I don’t think BAE is a malicious player, his tackle on Di Santo was truly awful and could have easily caused a long-term injury to the Wigan striker. He went over the top of the ball and whatever angle you look at the tackle, it doesn’t look good at all. But because referee Lee Probert saw the incident at the time and didn’t take any action, the FA can’t review it. This is a truly ludicrous state of affairs that needs to change immediately.
Players should be able to be cited after the game whether the incident went unnoticed or not during the 90 minutes. Just because the referee made a bad decision at the time it should be compounded by a refusal to review it. Surely if Cabaye’s kick out was violent conduct then Assou-Ekotto’s challenge can’t be far off assault? I’ll let you decide for yourself.
Here’s Assou-Ekotto’s ‘challenge’ (apologies in advance for the poor quality but head to 00:20 for a close-up of the tackle):
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And here’s Cabaye’s kick-out:
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Oh, and I forgot to mention, Lee Probert was the referee for both of these matches!
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It only grazed the brighton player’s face because he was far enough away from Cabaye’s fully extended leg not to get badly hurt. You only have to look at Cabaye’s face to know it was intentional.
An please do not harp on about Bae’s horrendous challenge. Was it anymore horrendous than Cabaye’s tackle at Anfield? Didn’t think so.
Yeah, I’d say it was worse
The problem is that the FA put too much onus on the referee seeing the incident or not. This should be scraped with any TV evidence judged by a panel of ex pro footballers. It would not be a case of making the Ref look stuoid or wrong just getting justice.
By the way i have seen BAE tackle like this many times before and donr believe it was to hurt the player. I think his foot sliiped on the top of the football onto the leg of Di Santo. Not sure about the Newcastle player and he is unlucky. It was not as bad as Ballatelli who is just a nutter
There is a big difference between a hard but fair tackle that is just misstimed and a dirty stamp or elbow and its why ex pros should make the decision
By the way Newcastle have done great this year well done Geordies
Cheers Garry
BAE’s tackle was lazy and he did intend to kick his opponent, lazy and mistimed but without malice. Cabaye & Balotelli both kicked an opponate in the face / head with intent, let’s not mix up the incidents.
Kicking/stamping on someone’s face is always worse than doing the same to a leg. Simply because broken legs can heal, but you can’t be unblinded.
The Cabaye kick out is not malicious in any sense of the word! He was bundled over, and felt the other player falling into him and merely pushed out to move himself away from him! Forcefully, I will grant that, but malicious! no way. I would have reacted exactly the same way, without any malicious intent what so ever. When you get bowled over like that, your first instinct is to push back when you feel the other play is about to land on you!
FA are a joke for this ban….
And in reply to ‘Alan’ if you wana pick bad tackles, take a look at your own team before you go after Cabaye, he was no way intent on hurting anyone in this incident.
Benoit’s affro is most offensive of all, bring back the Snoop Dog braids please Ben!
Lol, I kind of like it!
Newcastle fans are almost as blind as Manchester and Liverpool fans. There is a distinct difference… BAE plays the ball and catches him. Cabaye kicks him in the face after the play. One is not intentional and happens in every match. the other show’s malice and intent.
Hardly touches him mate.
The difference is cabaye meant what he did and ekotto made a bad tackle but didnt mean to hurt the player. the intent is what he has been banned for.
That’s a fair point.
As a spurs fan, I think that both should have been sent off, but only for the recklessness and potential danger of the challenge. Neither strikes me as a player who is like that, and I don’t think either were intentional when compared with someone like ballotelli’s. with benny’s he’s obviously tried to play the ball, but has got it horrendously wrong and luckily not ended di santo’s career. Cabaye looks like he’s just flailing around after falling over, but I must admit I haven’t seen this one as much. But agreed, these show more than ever that we need video replays!
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