Are we going to pretend like pretty much every other team don't do the same thing when they feel a decision has gone against them? Although I understand they felt hard done by, the reaction of Burnley's players to the last minute penalty was pretty disgraceful, in my opinion. Ashley Barnes in particular, who was right in the referee's face and essentially squared up to him. I agree this was stupid and the fact he denied doing so in his post-match interview was just embarrassing, but Wenger pushing the 4th official had no impact on the game.
People were being punished for it, earlier in the season. Slipped back into old ways now, though. He didn't leave the area that he was dismissed from. If that's a player, then it's a serious issue. I don't see why this is any different. If it doesn't have any effect, then why bother with it in the first place?
Don't get me wrong - it is still a serious offence and given that he showed a complete lack of respect for his colleagues, I hope he does get punished for not keeping his emotions in check. But in the context of the game, I don't see how that incident had an influence on the remaining few minutes or the lead up to the penalty.
I completely echo these comments PNP, absolutely sickening, I am sure all our thoughts are with Ryan and his family tonight, hoping he recovers quickly.
They said on BBC world news this morning that Mason had a fractured skull but was 'comfortable'. Whatever that means.
While it's always very frightening, from what I can tell I'm very hopeful that Mason will be fine. I certainly wish him all the best. Everything I know about him makes me think very highly of him.
My fear at this stage is that it might end his career. Can't play with a plate in your skull, if it comes to that.
I fractured my skull in 1988. I played rugby in the morning and took a kick to the back of my head. I remember nothing of the day from that point but apparently, I played the rest of the game. That was the culture in those days. After the game I went for a few drinks [not enough to affect me normally] and collapsed on my way to the car to be driven home. I was in and out of consciousness for a few hours and when I came round the next day I'd lost the use of my left side completely. I was in hospital for 2 weeks and it took 6 months to learn to walk properly again, let alone run. I was warned about further blows to the head and if I'd not thought myself invincible, I doubt I would have played a contact sport again. It did for me heading the ball again and I only ever played 5-a-side football after. Many years later, I found out that the blow displaced the position of my skull on my neck and contributed to needing 2 spinal operations to replace damaged discs. I hope that Ryan recovers well and that he is able to play again but he may need a long time to recover. The decision not to protect Cahill was a serious gamble with someone's health that shouldn't happen these days. I thought these lessons had been learned? Worryingly, it seems not.
Is there an inconsistency in the laws? Tackling someone in a way that risks serious injury (such as a broken leg) is serious foul play and gets a red card. Going for a header in a way that risks a serious head injury to an opponent seems to be thought of as just part of the game. I'm not sure of the solution though.
Papy Djilobodji has been charged with violent conduct by the FA. If he doesn't successfully appeal it, then he'll miss four games, starting with our trip to the Stadium of Light. No news yet on any charges for Wenger's push on the 4th official.
The issue is that and argument can be made that a player knew exactly what they were doing when they went in with a Charlie Adam Special so there's little wiggle room in appealing (unless it's Paul Scholes, as commentators always found his cynical fouls to be hilarious...) but when going for a header it's harder to prove if a player deliberately went to headbutt the opponent as there's more variables in play, not least the other player also jumping to head the same ball.
They clearly read my post! Di Canio got 12 games for pushing Dowd. Wenger did that and refused to leave. Should be about 20, really.
And a deliberate headbutt will generally hurt the offender as much as the victim - you can't time it like a Glasgow kiss on to the soft part of the nose. Studs up doesn't hurt the aggressor at all (until retribution is meted out)
