I wouldn't say the cantona incident is anything like this, Cantona kicked a knob (sorry i mean fan). this is between players.
the closet thing to this is when Jermiane defoe incident with another player, and what did they do. sweet FA.
The whole situation is a complete bloody mess!

Thai I understand and have some sympathy for what you are saying but how can the FA defend an 11 match ban for a gentle push on a referee and only give a 5 match ban for career ending tackle? Is the FA seriously trying to say that pushing a referee deserves a far harsher punishment than for racist abuse? The whole situation is a complete bloody mess! As RR points out the FA is investing millions in goal line technology when what it should be doing is sorting out its own disciplinary proceedures before it loses what little credibility is has left in the game!


I think it is about setting a precedent, they need to send out a message so other players do not consider pushing a referee.
For a career ending challenge there may be many factors involved as it is and action that has taken place in play and is related to football. Pushing a ref, biting an opponent or spitting on them are a little different as they are acts committed when the ball is not in play and these actions amount to common assault.
This was just about what I was going to say. The incidents that are getting the longer bans all have one thing in common - they are off the ball incidents and effectively assaults, it appears that these automatically set the bar that bit higher for a handing out a punishment
It is well documented that Keane deliberatley intended to do serious damage to Inge Haarland during that game! What can be possibly worse that?
For the first time in my life I will admit to being ashamed and embarassed that we took him as our manager! The Cobbold's would have been spinning in their graves!
you can get cream for that mate