No Charge for McManaman

I would like to make a complaint in regards to the FA's failure to impose a post match ban on Wigan Athletics Callum McManaman following the incident involving Newcastle Uniteds Massadio Haidara at the weekend. In failing to impose a ban, I believe the FA have brought the game into disrepute, by not only appearing to endorse the type of challenge, but by suggesting that due to their reasoning of failing to endorse the ban, one of the officials present saw the challenge. This severely damages the reputation and credibility of the officials at the game, and could quite easily cause them considerable distress from angry supporters in future.
I believe the challenge was one of the worst that the Premier League has seen in it's history, and almost definitely the worst to go unpunished. If that does not count as "special circumstances" under the FA guidelines, then I do believe they need to seriously consider either clarifying that statement, or removing it entirely from their rules regarding post match punishment. The challenge made was indefensible, and by allowing it to go unpunished, could lead to further challenges made of similar ilk in future. It has recently been brought to the attention that this is not the first challenge made by this player that has resulted in his opposition being carried from the field of play on a stretcher, so without the necessary punishment being enforced, it may not be the last.
As a Newcastle United season ticket holder, I feel that the injury inflicted by this challenge has caused damages to my, and all my fellow season ticket holders, investments. We are now prevented from seeing our teams player representing us in not only domestic competition, but in European challenges. The victim of the challenge was becoming a major part of our European progress, so there is a major chance that our future participation in this competition. While I accept that injuries are a common part of the game, I feel that injuries inflicted by tackles such as this, which quite clearly contravene FA rules on what is and isn't allowed on the football pitch, should be punished accordingly, as without punishment, there is every chance that the player could become a repeat offender and cause more injury in future.

 

What a load of bollocks they talk, surely all forms of retrospective punishment they have in place is " re- refereeing " the game, just because an official saw the incident and chose not to take action doesn't make it correct. If that was the case why do they demote referees for having poor games.

 

It's sad, but I'm not even surprised. Utter joke.

 

I've just sent the below off..... what a disgrace... I thought our FA would have balls but they are the same as FIFA... cowards.


Dear Sir,
I'd like to register my disgust at the FA's decision not to retopspectively punish the Wigan player for the horror assault on Haidara. If, as the FA say.. the referee's assistant saw it so no action will be taken.... does that mean the rest of the country is wrong?... I personally think that the assistant is clearly incapable of doing his job if he sees no issue in that.
I'd furthermore suggest sending the assistant in question to the hospital to explain his viewpoint to the player.
All in all the FA have again failed the sport it is meant to protect as kids all over the country will now be thinking it is ok to make such reckless tackles.
I'm appalled at the handling of this and require a fuller explanation as to why they are clearly protecting inadequate officials.
Your dispondently,
..........

 

If the majority of professional footballers have indicated they're unhappy about the dreadful tackle, surely that should carry some clout.

 

Not surprised I have never had confidence in the FA.

 

Good to see you posting newcastlemick.
Have had to merge though as there was a slightly earlier article.
Cheers,
ACS

 

Remember when Cabaye got banned against Brighton because the ref said he'd seen the incident but not clearly - how is this any different?

I just can't fathom this excuse from the FA. That a player can get away with a challenge like that despite such clear video footage is an abomination.

 

Official NUFC statement from Llambias in response to this ridiculous and terrible decision from the FA:




There has been significant public reaction from media, industry figures and supporters to the tackle made by Wigan Athletic's Callum McManaman on Massadio Haidara during the first-half of our Premier League fixture on Sunday, 17th March, in particular comments made by Wigan's owner Dave Whelan.

I have the greatest respect for Dave, who has been in the game for a long time as a professional footballer and now owner. I am also aware that Dave's career was cut short due to injury.

I am therefore disappointed and surprised by the comments he made yesterday, in particular his assertion that the tackle by Callum McManaman "was a fair challenge".

It is our strongly held opinion that the tackle on Massadio was extremely dangerous and is the type of challenge that has the potential to cause serious harm and such was the force, and reckless and dangerous nature of the challenge, even end a player's career.

It was not a fair challenge. This view is shared by countless former players, referees and well-respected media commentators. Indeed it appears to be only Dave Whelan who takes a contrary view.

We are disappointed to learn that the FA is not going to charge the Wigan player. We were first notified of this decision by a national media outlet who received notification from the FA confirming the decision.

This was prior to anyone from the FA having the courtesy to contact the Club to let us know.
It is clear from this decision that the current disciplinary procedures are not fit for purpose.

Newcastle United, along with other clubs, have had players suspended for incidents reviewed after the game. Whilst not trivialising these incidents, they were not, in our opinion, of the seriousness of Callum McManaman's tackle on Haidara.

Whilst we understand that the current procedures give the FA limited options, it cannot be correct that the most serious offences - those which have the potential to cause another player serious harm - can go unpunished, even if the original incident was seen by match officials.

We will now be making a strong representation to the FA and the Premier League to see how a more appropriate, fair and even-handed disciplinary process can be introduced at the earliest opportunity to prevent incidents of this nature going unpunished in the future.

Our attentions at this time are firmly with Massadio. He only joined us in January, but in that short time he has impressed us immensely both on and off the field. Massadio was scanned yesterday and will continue to be assessed for the remainder of the week.

He will undergo a further scan next week in order to determine the extent of the damage caused.

Contrary to comments in the media, there is currently no timescale for his recovery.

We would like to thank our fans for their heart-felt messages of support for Massadio. We are passing these messages on to him and we are sure they will help keep his spirits up.

 

Contrary to comments in the media, there is currently no timescale for his recovery.

Well put by the club there.
I can read between the lines a bit as well.

 

If the FA maintain they can't re-referee the game how do they then have the power to rescind a red card?

 

in a word mate... cos they can.

 

Llambias going up in my opinion.

In another rare event even national rags seem outraged for us -

The Mail: McManaman not punished for horror tackle on Haidara and Newcastle turn fire on FA
The Mirror: Let off! Wigan's Callum McManaman escapes FA punishment because official SAW horror tackle
The Telegraph: Callum McManaman will face no action for horror tackle on Massadio Haïdara

 

I'm disgusted by this decision as a football fan and I'd be even more pissed if it was my club that had suffered as a result.

The FA showing once again they can't do anything right.

Apparently only Dave Whelen and the FA think it's right to not punish the lad retrospectively; the rest of us must all be wrong then!!!

 

Not necessarilly so.

There may be no way to compel the FA to discipline Mcwhathisname, but if a Court is of the view that the tackle went beyond the category of the type of fouls which can be expected to occur in the heat of the moment then it will award damages.

 

Pleased by our statement and way we have conducted ourselves.

 

http://www.underdog.co.uk/can-i-claim?ref=google-brand&gclid=CKD6kM-cibYCFcbKtAodwmIAiw

Think we need these?

 

That is the most impressive formal statement, or statement of any kind, issued by NUFC in the Ashley era. Dignified, but outraged, but dignified.

Well done Mr Llambias.

 

It boggles my mind how they're not punishing this.

 

If one of us broke Mcwhathisname's leg, would a court take no action against us?