Did anyone else write an e-mail to the FA regarding the Wayne Rooney incident and the favourable treatment towards Manchester United.
Here is the reply I received
Thank you for contacting The Football Association.
The FA are only able to use retrospective action in incidents that are ââ¬Ënot seenââ¬â¢ by referees. In reference to the Wayne Rooney incident this was clarified as having been ââ¬Ëseenââ¬â¢ by the referee - who awarded a free-kick at the time - therefore ruling out the potential use of retrospective action. The guidance for this is issued by the world governing body FIFA. The FA apply this rule consistently across all levels of the game for which we are responsible.
The Football Association receives many e-mails and letters from supporters of clubs complaining about what they see as favourable or unfavourable treatment. Football is a game of opinions, but our concern is to be even handed across the board. We are confident that the disciplinary procedures off the pitch as well as the Referees on the pitch uphold the laws of the game without any bias to player, manager or club.
The FA strongly refutes any suggestion that Manchester Utd (or any other club for that matter) are treated differently. As evidence of this please see the statistics below, noting the 3 charges against Manchester United, two of which relate to Wayne Rooney (v Bolton 2006) and Rio Ferdinand (v Hull 2010). From the 2004/5 season onwards (the first season the Fast-Track system replaced the previous system) these are the stats relating to individual player charges that were ââ¬Ënot seenââ¬â¢ by the referee.
58 players have been charged, 29 from the PL, including:
Man City 5
Newcastle 4
Arsenal 4
Man United 3
Tottenham 2
Birmingham 2
Blackburn 2
Bolton 1
Chelsea 1
Everton 1
Fulham 1
Stoke 1
WBA 1
Wigan 1
Whilst we appreciate that this may not alleviate your concerns we hope that this clarifies the issue.
Kind regards
Here is the reply I received
Thank you for contacting The Football Association.
The FA are only able to use retrospective action in incidents that are ââ¬Ënot seenââ¬â¢ by referees. In reference to the Wayne Rooney incident this was clarified as having been ââ¬Ëseenââ¬â¢ by the referee - who awarded a free-kick at the time - therefore ruling out the potential use of retrospective action. The guidance for this is issued by the world governing body FIFA. The FA apply this rule consistently across all levels of the game for which we are responsible.
The Football Association receives many e-mails and letters from supporters of clubs complaining about what they see as favourable or unfavourable treatment. Football is a game of opinions, but our concern is to be even handed across the board. We are confident that the disciplinary procedures off the pitch as well as the Referees on the pitch uphold the laws of the game without any bias to player, manager or club.
The FA strongly refutes any suggestion that Manchester Utd (or any other club for that matter) are treated differently. As evidence of this please see the statistics below, noting the 3 charges against Manchester United, two of which relate to Wayne Rooney (v Bolton 2006) and Rio Ferdinand (v Hull 2010). From the 2004/5 season onwards (the first season the Fast-Track system replaced the previous system) these are the stats relating to individual player charges that were ââ¬Ënot seenââ¬â¢ by the referee.
58 players have been charged, 29 from the PL, including:
Man City 5
Newcastle 4
Arsenal 4
Man United 3
Tottenham 2
Birmingham 2
Blackburn 2
Bolton 1
Chelsea 1
Everton 1
Fulham 1
Stoke 1
WBA 1
Wigan 1
Whilst we appreciate that this may not alleviate your concerns we hope that this clarifies the issue.
Kind regards