I've no idea how they reach their decisions, but although Barton's was bad (and it still makes me chuckle to see his little scouse mug all curled up and snarling), Fellaini actually made contact with 3 quite severe attacks. Surely worthy of a similar ban, though the fact that there was no 'situation' surrounding the incidents might mean he'll get off lighter, perhaps?
Keep in mind that Barton is always worthy of an extra few games banning because he is an assole thru & thru. It has to count for something!
TV analysis of incidents like this can be very selective and show the blow out and not the provocation. Of course he was totally wrong in what he did but the fireworks are easy to capture. What went on before? I've seen Felaini play on many occasions but never seen him behave like that. It reminded me in some ways of Zidane against Italy. At least Moyes was clear and didn't try to defend the behaviour.
Strange that Shawcross never made a meal of it too, there must've been some niggling before the 'explosion' but Fellaini should get at least a nine-match ban for three red card offences...
Just headbutted (and I mean a proper pub headbutt) punched and elbowed Shawcross in 3 separate incidents. It should be 9 games at least. Bloody typical as I just bought him for my fantasy team.
Only saw MOTD so as Cur says upthread we don't know what happened outside the shown incidents. Shawcross is no saint but a 6 match ban would sound about right with an extra day added for the hair making 7.
There's no excuse for the assaults Fellaini committed, but surely when an attacking player in the opposing team's box is continually being held in a bear hug from behind by a defender (Shawcross looked at though he had his hands clasped around Fellaini's abdomen), the referee should act?
Fellaini even looked around to see where the ref was before he butted Shawcross. It wasn't even in the heat of the moment and was clearly pre-meditated. 9 games minimum. He's a silly Fella ini?
Wrong thought it was, the headbutt was no Glaswegian Kiss. If you look at the incident, Shawcross goes down as if he'd been taken out from some grassy knoll, but when he realises that the ref's missed it entirely he gets up again no worse for wear. That in no way excuses Fellatio, or for the other attempted assaults that followed, but having just criticised Shawcross, I have to say that his behaviour thereafter was exemplary. I was reminded of de Zeeuw when he was spat at that time (was that by Colin's pet Rat, I forget?). Of course, as others have pointed out, he may well have dished it out both physically and verbally before Fellatio's retaliated. A word on Moyes. Assuming it wasn't editing, he looked clearly full of rage with Fellatio's behaviour from the technical area, criticised him unreservedly in the interviews after the game, but kept him on the pitch for the full 90 mins anyway. Obviously he know he's an important player for Everton and could win the game, but yet another example of the double standards that permeate the world of Association Football.
Watching MOTD I thought i saw Fellani throw an elbow before the highlighted incidents so he should be lucky to get 9.
