Slightly off topic but just seen that Shaun Derry's red card against United hasn't been rescinded even though everyone can see there was very minimal, if actually any contact on Ashley Young. However, Ballotelli's assault on Song which could have easily broken his leg, isn't being looked into as "the ref saw it". If the ref saw that, he needs to go on a course on what a bad tackle really is. Refereees need to play the game to realise that sort of tackle is cowardly and should be punish and a simple "sliding tackle" isn't always bad. I really don't understand the appeals and who looks into these thigns after the game. They have the cheek to appeal Rooney's red for England (this isn't a dig at Rooney or United) but then uphold pathetic red cards that should never been given. I can sort of understand refs missing certain things in games, and maybe making the wrong decision because they have 1 look and 1 angle, but when they get a chance to look again on replays from different angles and still come to the same conclusion then I really do start to worry.
The reason Dermot Gallagher gave (and it's the rule the FA go by) is that they didn't deem the Derry red card an 'obvious mistake' by the ref. He said the offside decision is academic, as the ref judged the challenge in isolation. Apparently, even though from several angles it was clearly no foul, from the ref's angle it was 'understandable' that he awarded a penalty. The Ballotelli incident was apparently seen by the 4th official (rather than the ref) and so goes unpunished. By the rules, both are correct. Therefore, the rules are completely wrong. The FA won't exercise common sense and change them, though.
The third justifies the first two. Or did you mean Fergie, Gary and Webb are sad, bitter and funny respectively?
I suspect all 3 will be happy with United's league position. Webb will be on for a bonus envelope soon.
