The Football Association have today proven themselves to be an organisation riddled with incompetence from the top down.
Their unremitting stance and refusal to retrospectively punish England starlet Wayne Rooney for his nasty elbow on James McCarthy also strikes of a complete misplacement of priorities.
Time and again, we hear the line “the referee’s decision is final” from the FA when they are faced with dealing with a difficult situation retrospectively.
Only a few weeks ago they saw fit to fine former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel for posting a mock-up of Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt, a joke for which he soon apologised.
Rooney hasn’t, and probably never will, apologise for his actions. For those who remember that far back, Ben Thatcher was given a whopping 23 game retrospective ban from the FA, despite the ref having dealt with the situation at the time by sending the player off.
While I’m not suggesting Rooney’s elbow was anywhere near that dangerous, it easily could have been. An elbow like that in the side of a players head could have easily knocked McCarthy to the ground. If anything, Rooney should be both apologising and thanking him for not going down and making a meal of the situation.
Alex Ferguson's proclamation that the media would want Rooney “electrocuted” following his antics this weekend were in as ill taste as the elbow itself.
His stance was understandable, the need to deflect negative attention from his volatile young star was at a paramount at a key stage of the season. His words may have made the FA think twice about punishing the Manchester United striker, by putting them in a situation where they could be seen to be bowing to media pressure.
But it would have been refreshing for Ferguson to while perhaps not condemn Rooney’s actions, not be so adamant of his innocence. It was clear for all to see that Rooney’s elbow smash was as vicious as it was cowardly, and struck of a man who knows he is above reprimand.
Despite Ferguson’s hyperbolic statements, Rooney should have been given a ban. The referee awarding a free-kick was not him dealing with the situation. He too, should have been banned for making such a terribly inept decision.
Continued cowardice like this from the FA only serves to undermine their respect campaign and does the image of the game no good whatsoever.
