The FA: Failure to Act?

The FA defines themselves as the Football Association, but after ignoring another act of thuggish behaviour from Joey Barton surely they should consider changing their name, with Failure to Act seeming more appropriate.

Referee Martin Atkinson admitted in his report that he had seen Barton's over the top tackle on Dickson Etuhu and because of this FA rules state that no further action can be taken, bordering on the ridiculous and continuing to make the FA a laughing stock in English football. If Atkinson had however, failed to mention the incident the FA big wigs would have shown him the footage and asked him to make a decision, which would have undoubtedly resulted in a ban.

After reading comments on The Times The Game section, Tony Cascarino believes that this was a 'minor incident' and that 'the FA should start asking the supposed victims if they want action taken. Nine times out of ten, they will not.'

I can see Tony's point because love Barton or hate him, you don't want to see him get banned and like Tony said no footballer will want action taken, as it's not good for reputation of the game. But I'm afraid this act of negligence by the FA is the core of the problem, and the main reason why the game is in such a state. Players are starting to get this new found belief where they can literally behave how the hell they like on a football field and get away with it, for the simple fact the FA are too scared or too blind to take the necessary action.

The referee or his assistants did not see the incident clearly and that is more than acceptable, they don't have eyes in the back of their heads so I can't expect them to see everything on the pitch. But surely the FA should over rule their decision not to punish the player? By allowing an incident like this to escape sanction once again shows the FA to be pathetic rulers of the game, and because of this they are lowering the standards of a once fair sport.

I'm sure if Etuhu had felt the need to retaliate he would have faced punishment (and rightly so), but is that the only way justice can be served? Now the dust has settled he will not want Barton to face a ban, like Cascarino argued. But on occasions like these the law is the law and the FA should be brave enough to over rule the referee's decision and hit Barton with a three-match suspension, maybe that will stop him from doing it again.

Barton claimed he was 'rusty' and had no intention to hurt the player, I find that very hard to believe. The challenge could have easily been prevented, well if the player in question had any form of a brain or any form of decency and sportsmanship. If Barton wants to say it was an accident then let him continue to fool himself and his manager by trying to suggest he's changed. Players and people like Joey Barton will never change, he is a mindless thug who continues to play the game of football in a violent, undesirable way.

I'm normally quite objective in my comments, but I can't find it in me to give this man the benefit of the doubt. I'm not angry at Barton, I expect it from him. I'm angry at the FA for condoning his actions, letting people get away with this sort of thing will continue to damage the game, but why bother whining about because as we all know, nothing will change.

To read Tony Cascarino's comments click here

James Henderson
ALS

Comments

[James]

Hi Faustino, thanks for your comments. In all honesty I don't think Newcastle are a dirty team, far from it. My gripe is with Joey Barton the player.

Man City weren't a dirty team but always came under the spotlight because of Barton, maybe that could happen to you.

Barton's career at Newcastle hasn't started to well with injuries and what not, do you think he can be a big player for you?

[James]

Hi Saleh thanks for your comments. No I don't think it would have been. Like I said to Gilbert, opinion is divided on the tackle, I personally believe it was horrendous and typical of Barton.

However others think it was simply an accident and too much is being made out of it, that could be the reason why nothing has been done.

I find it hard to believe this incident has anything to do with race, why do you believe this?

[James]

Hi again Gilbert. I appreciate your comments but again I struggle to see why race would be the problem here, are you saying that because Etuhu is black the FA have decided no action need be taken. If that's your view I don't believe it to be the correct one.

Even though I believe it to be an awful tackle, not everyone sees it that way. With Times writer Tony Cascarino and even Roy Keane dismissing the tackle as an accident, do you think that this could be the actual reason why nothing has been done?

[Faustino]

I started watching Newcastle over 50 years ago. Traditionally, they've never been a dirty team, and why they've seen the need to bring in players such as Bowyer, Alan Smith and Barton, I have no idea. I hope the new regime will reverse this unwelcome trend.

[Saleh]

let's put it the other way round! the FA's position might have been a bit different, right? the reasons behind their latest delicate action were not convincing at all. some extremist may also see as a bit 'RACIST' as well.

[Gilbert A. Phiri]

Hi James.I see race in this issue when I compare it with Thatcher willfully knocking Mendes unconcious. In that situation the FA were willing to retrospectively ban Thatcher after seeing video evidence! While Barton's daylight savagery comes nowhere near the Thatcher incident, the FA should have followed the precedent they set. I can appreciate their wanting to protect referees' decisions as being final but exceptions should exist when certain actions threaten to undermine the very laws of the game that the FA want to protect.

[James]

Video Technology would be the obvious way to go, but I don't think we're dealing with people capable of making obvious decisions, do you?

By having this technology, used to review an incident after the game, like you said would end any amount of indecision or arguing.

A lot of people have argued there has been an over reaction to the tackle, especially because Barton was involved, I honestly don't buy that for one second. What is your take on it?

[James]

Hi Gilbert, thanks for you comment. What makes you believe this is about race?

You spoke about setting an example, and i've got to say if I was a young player trying to make the grade, I would not want to play in the same team as mindless thugs like Barton and Thatcher.

Roy Keane has dismissed the tackle saying it has only caused a stir because it was Barton, but to be honest that is correct.

Barton has been guilty of these types of tackles before, meaning it is not out of character and another reason why the FA should be clamping down on him.

[James]

In reply to Descartes I couldn't agree more with what you have said. The FA is a pointless association in English football, it does nothing and because of this the game is spiralling out of control.

This tackle is not an isolated incident, it happens week in week out. Like you said, teams will be encouraged to field 'hit men' in order to stifle opposing players. And you know why this is happening? Because nothing is done about it, the occasional slap on the wrist is embarrassing and does nothing to stop the situation.

And as for McClaren, in a wierd way I hope England don't qualify for the tournament, because it will surely spell the end of him as manager. But then again, this is the FA we're talking about.

[descartes]

Maybe a nice smoke screen to divert attention from the abject failure to select a 'winning' national team manager.

obviously, life and limb mean little to the committee as they rubber stamp the antics of another hoodlum.

Dire, no absolutely shameful.

Teams will field their own 'Hit Man' as a team member to take out any player seen as a threat. Then the F.A's will rubber stamp it as a demeanour and not worth worrying about.

Sheer Folly

[Gilbert A. Phiri]

My take on this is simply that Etuhu is black and that is the reason the FA have concocted a fancy reason not to act against the rogue called Barton. When Thatcher dreadfully knocked Pedro Mendes didn't the FA act? What is the difference between this case and the one concerning Mendes? The intentional high kick by this little thug aimed at Etuhu'a nether regions could have seriously injured Dickson. And just what example is being set for the English youth?

[NR]

Two words - 'Video Technology'......... unless and until the FA, FIFA, The Premier league or whoever else gets their act together and introduces it the back pages will continue to be riddled with tales of actual or perceived injustice week in week out. Its not even as if it would cost much - Sky provide it for every viewer already.