Last Saturday, Middlesbrough’s Jeremie Aliadiere was sent off by referee Lee Mason for slapping Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano. Middlesbrough appealed the dismissal but, on Wednesday, were informed by the FA that the appeal was being dismissed because it was frivolous and an extra game was added to the striker’s initial three-match ban. Middlesbrough were predictably outraged, with chairman Steve Gibson launching a scathing attack on the FA describing them as ‘amateurs’ and ‘silly little men.’ In my opinion, Gibson should shut up and grow up. Aliadiere slapped Mascherano in the face; the force of the slap is not the issue. Once the referee saw the incident he had no choice but to dismiss the striker. The referee did not make a mistake and Middlesbrough had absolutely no grounds for an appeal. Therefore the appeal was unnecessary, frivolous and doomed to failure. Gibson was dumb to submit it in the first place and now he has managed to extend the ban of Aliadiere. What was the basis of his appeal? – “Eh, yes he deliberately struck Mascherano in the face but it wasn’t very hard!” Get real.
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Aliadiere's sending off was deserved and the FA were right to add a game to the ban. Too many red cards are appealed when they should just be accepted.
In saying that as a Liverpool fan I must admit Masch is a bit lucky not to go himself. He may only have placed his hand on the Boro players face but that still counts as raising your hand I think.
The rule needs to be consistent if we want to stop people doing it.
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