Special features
Aliadiere gets extra ban
It appears that there is one rule for the big boys and another for the rest of us.
Keith Lamb
Quotes of the week
Related links
Teams
Players
Also see
Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb has launched a scathing attack on the Football Association after it rejected Jeremie Aliadiere's appeal against his sending off at Liverpool.
Referee Lee Mason dismissed Aliadiere for slapping Javier Mascherano - who raised his hands to the Frenchman - but let the Liverpool midfielder off with a warning.
Boro appealed, but the FA's regulatory commission rejected the claim and extended the ban by another match to four games as they claimed the decision to object to the original sending off was branded as 'frivolous'.
The Teesside club, though, have hit back and Lamb has described the FA's decision as a 'travesty of justice' and insisted they were being treated different as they were not one of the 'big boys'.
Fury
"We are furious and totally astounded that the commission, without consultation, should consider our appeal to be frivolous," blasted the Boro chief.
"Who are they to know our minds when we made this appeal?
"We are appalled at the decision and the entire process. How can nameless, faceless people on a commission decide that our genuine claim for equality and justice be dealt with in such a flippant manner?
"It is a disgraceful comment to suggest our claim was frivolous. We agonised over it before deciding to submit a claim for wrongful dismissal.
"The Oxford Dictionary definition of frivolous is 'not serious, shallow, silly or trifling', while in fact we spent more than two days considering whether or not to appeal the incident.
"It seems strange that only recently Chelsea's appeal against Michael Essien's three-match ban was rejected but not considered 'frivolous'.
"It appears that there is one rule for the big boys and another for the rest
of us."
Harsh
"We considered Jeremie's dismissal to be extremely harsh," he continued.
"We find the inconsistency displayed in this whole incident unacceptable and quite unbelievable.
-
Wimbledon: Day Thirteen
Pictures from SW19 as Roger Federer makes history by winning his 15th Grand Slam against Andy Roddick.
-
Wimbledon: Day Twelve
Pictures from SW19 as Serena Williams claims the Venus Rosewater Dish in the women's final.
-
South Africa 9 Lions 28
Pictures from the British and Irish Lions victory in the third and final Test in Johannesburg.
-
Eng Lions v Australia: Day 4
All the best images from day four of play between the England Lions and Australia at New Road.
Wimbledon: Day Thirteen
Pictures from SW19 as Roger Federer makes history by winning his 15th Grand Slam against Andy Roddick.
Features
Taking the Michael
Skysports.com assesses Michael Owen's possible free transfer to Manchester United.
Sky Sports Scout
Sky Sports Scout is where we scour the globe looking out for the best talent, next up is Dani Pacheco.
Ronaldo Factfile
Skysports.com takes a look at the key moments in Cristiano Ronaldo's brilliant career to date.
Around Sky Sports today
Twitter
Follow Sky Sports on Twitter for exclusive competitions
Play Fantasy Ashes
Select your Fantasy Ashes squad now for the chance to win great prizes!
Dodgeball Challenge Final
See how the UK winners fared against the US champions! New video
Comments (15)
Keith Lindsey (Arsenal fan) says...
I would like to express my support for Keith Lamb, the fa ARE so petty, if Aliadiere was sent off for raising his hand masquerader should have gone too, not only that, most of the liverpool team should have been booked for waving their hands to indicate cards, AND the referee should be fined for his actions (being so easily led by the home players AND CROWD). every body sings the same song "arsenal always cheating" but this is a more cowardly way of trying to cheat your way through the premiership. I WEAR A CANNON ON MY CHEST BUT I AM PROUD TO SAY IN THIS INSTANCE "UP THE BORO". I would stand side by side with Keith Lamb he is a man i could get to like a lot. When will we see referees being brought to bear when they are so blatently wrong. bad refereeing and leadership by the fa are costing us our beautiful game. where will it all end????????
Posted 21:55 28th February 2008
Paul Hodge (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...
Aren't boro throwing the dummy out of the pram over this. Keep your hands down and you don't get sent off. Wht would he slap him anyway when my 3 year old can hit harder. Pathetic.
Posted 11:27 28th February 2008
Peter Murema says...
It is a big disgrace the way the FA makes its decisions. If you watched the video, Mescherano should have been sent off first. He is the one who brought about all the mess!! Shame on you, you people in the FA. Nothing left in your right head, and nothing right in your left head!!
Posted 05:44 28th February 2008
Dave Hall says...
This leaves the door open for unscrupulous players to provoke opponents - to have them sent off - whilst receiving no punishment themselves.The FA should have made an example of Mascherano's unsporting behaviour. Alliadiere should be banned , but for a lesser, not longer period.
Posted 17:09 27th February 2008
Paul Edwards (Liverpool fan) says...
The only thing that is crazy is the spoilt child-like attitude of the players that commit these stupid acts. If they were proper men they'd turn a blind eye to provocation. Take a leaf out of Rugby's discipline. No argiung with the refs and speak when spoken to attitude. If players continue to act like children they they should be treated like them too. To call the FA childish is stupid, the comments made should be directed to the player himself for doing it! Grow up Premiership stars your getting paid far too much money to act like spoilt brats!
Posted 13:47 27th February 2008
Ali Zahid (Manchester United fan) says...
This is crazy! Only last week, the FA didn't punish Gallas for an obvious kick on Nani. That did warrant a red card but he got away with it. These decisions were obvious when David Dein was there, but they continue even without him.
Posted 12:11 27th February 2008
James Harrison (Middlesbrough fan) says...
Another example of the FA punishing smaller teams. I can understand the red card because the rules say that you are not allowed to raise your hands to another player - but what did Mascherano do then! Plus, giving the lad an extra game is a joke, can you imagine the FA giving Drogba or Rooney an extra ban - I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 11:15 27th February 2008
Joseph Turner (Bristol Rovers fan) says...
I couldn't agree more with Kieth Lamb. The decision is outrageous ! If the two actions on the pitch were reversed, The Boro player grabs the Liverpool player by the throat, and the Liverpool player reacts by throwing a little slap back, you can bet that the referee would have sent off the Boro player for instigating the incident !
Posted 10:42 27th February 2008
Danny Turner (Middlesbrough fan) says...
I stand with the club here, I saw the game and Mascherano raised his hands and should of seen red for it. I said the same last night when I was talking about it at the pub, you can't win decisions against the big 4 because the FA, the referees and the Premier League won't allow it! THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE BIG 4!!! This is just another classic example of where the Premier League falls down when it comes to decision making. We watch it every week as fans, when a decision goes against one of the big 4 they crowd the referee and give him a hard time as though they should get preferential treatment and 9 times out of 10 the referee crumbles under the pressure. Why should Mascherano walk away when Aliadiere is now going to sit out 4 games because of a 'frivilous' appeal. The FA has failed football again, this would not happen to Manchester Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool. I think it might be time to have a clear out of these men at the FA who seem to fear 4 clubs! These men run the league and they are afraid to be fair within a leauge that they control! Bad decision again, Thanks FA!
Posted 10:18 27th February 2008
Phil Brown (Manchester United fan) says...
The incident was a 'nothing' event. If anything the unsporting behaviour was from Mascherano - provocation and then pointing to his face to try and get Aliadiere sent off. Either Mascherano or neither should be punished, but to punish only Aliadiere stinks of injustice. The extension to a four game ban fits in great for the FA. Aliadiere now misses the important game against Arsenal, thus giving Arsenal an anvantage in the title race. It does not take a genious to see how bias the FA pro Arsenal and pro Liverpool - it has been the case for many years.
Posted 10:13 27th February 2008
Ben Hartshorne (Middlesbrough fan) says...
I'm not saying that Aliadiere is in the right here but their wouldn't have been an incident to report without Macherano showing a lack of respect in the first place, the referee has obviously reacted to the Liverpool fans more than anything else and their should not have even been a sending off, a simple warning for both players was all that was needed. And for the f.a to basically laugh of our appeal for a player who is never in bother just shows that if you are not from London or in the top 4, then you don't stand a chance, it's time to close up the divide.
Posted 09:46 27th February 2008
Lee Rennie (Arsenal fan) says...
This is typical of the FA, break someones leg 3 match ban , give another a slap give 4 match ban. HAS ANYONE AT THE FA GOT ANY SENSE !!!!!
Posted 08:55 27th February 2008
Paul Saunders (Chelsea fan) says...
When the FA looked at the incident why o why did they not punish the Liverpool player, Mascherano for grabbing the guy's face. Sorry, however, my view is that two wrongs do not make a right, Aliadiere, had to go he raised his hands. There is a lot of "unseen by the refereee" which the FA should punish via video, if they started this the whole game would take note and clean up it's act.
Posted 08:36 27th February 2008
Jim Bo (Liverpool fan) says...
Another situation that further proves that the FA are a laughing stock.
Posted 08:36 27th February 2008
Stewart Thompson (Middlesbrough fan) says...
Absolutely crazy. How can someone get a four match ban for a petulant slap in the same weekend that another player had his leg snapped (possibly intentionally) in a tackle? How many games is the player responsible for that banned for? Makes a complete mockery of the FA's disciplinary system.
Posted 08:22 27th February 2008