unprofessional foul
Thursday September 2nd 2010

Sunderland Center Back Gets 4 Match Ban.

'Off you go son.' Mariner sends Turner for an early bath.
'Off you go son.' Mariner sends Turner for an early bath.

‘How dare you waste our time’. That was the line the FA were taking as they handed Sunderland’s Michael Turner a four match ban today. Three games for his elbow on Gareth Barry last weekend and one for wasting their time.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce didn’t like the decision that saw his center back sent off late in the game with Man City and he asked referee Andre Mariner to look at the incident again.

You have got to raise your elbows when you are jumping for a ball. I might as well tell my centre-half not to head it next week because he might get sent off. – Steve Bruce.

The FA clearly disagreed with Bruce and said the appeal had ‘no chance of success’, leading to the extra card for time wasting.

Turner will miss the next three Premier League games and the FA Cup tie with minnows Barrow.

16 Comments for “Sunderland Center Back Gets 4 Match Ban.”

  • Dustin says:

    I don’t really agree with punishing him MORE. Steve Bruce is still an idiot, I’m sure it’ll be fine for me to elbow him in the face and he wouldn’t complain at all.

  • Georger says:

    That was probably the worst red card I’ve seen all year.

  • Dustin says:

    Really? You don’t think an Elbow to the face deserves a red card?

  • Ryan says:

    I think that red card is more on Mariner than on the player, he reffed a very inconsistent game, neither team was very pleased with his performance.

  • Georger says:

    When it isn’t careless reckless or malicious, no, it absolutely does not, it looked entirely accidental as they were going up for a ball.

    But I’m not sanctioned so …

  • Georger says:

    I mean MAYBE a yellow. But a straight red for that elbow is obscene.

  • Dustin says:

    Well in America it is a Red Card. According to the USSF who have laid out guidelines particularly for that. So if you see a red given for that in America, that’s correct.

    Also he’s a FIFA referee, trained by FIFA, they probably want that to be a Red Card. Maybe the FA or English fans don’t, but that’s how FIFA trains their referees.

  • phil says:

    Personally, I think Turner should be awarded for bashing GazBaz in the kisser.

  • Seks Fibreglass says:

    Dustin, dont make this an english vs the rest thing.
    We watched the foul again today during out IT dept’s working lunch.
    22 guys (and 2 chicks) from at least 8 different countries including one who was first division referee in france and one who was in Brazil and while there was some debate whether this was a yellow or a red (the two ex 1st div. referees said yellow), 3/4 went with yellow.
    No one thought this justified any other sanction.

    And Ive watched enough USL, MLS, Champions League games vs Mexican teams to have seen a couple of real nasty mid air fouls that were never given more than a yellow. Those referees must have missed the USSF directives.
    Heck there was a kung fu to the chest a few weeks back in england that im not even sure resulted in a yellow.
    Nasty and intentional shit happens every week.
    This wasnt very nasty and even less intentional.

    Bruce is an ass but he is right: total effing joke.

  • Georger says:

    “22 guys (and 2 chicks) from at least 8 different countries”

    You work for GI Joe don’t you!

  • Goat says:

    @Seks: Is your company hiring?

  • phil says:

    @Goat: You don’t go looking for GI Joe; they come looking for you.

    /David Caruso Sunglasses Removal

  • ebullientfatalist says:

    @Phil: Well played, sir.

  • Dustin says:

    It’s either they didn’t get the directives Seks, or they didn’t see the play properly. The USSF has their Directives on their website right here.

    http://www.ussoccer.com/Referees/Referee-Development/Directives.aspx

    It’s under “Contact Above the Shoulder” in a PDF file. The English FA obviously agree with the referee and the USSF in this case. It’s a red card, sorry you don’t like it but that’s the way it is. I don’t come to your work and tell you that you’re a total effing joke now do I?

  • Army of Dad says:

    Also, USSF has a week in review where they show videos of plays and discuss the action taken and what should have been taken. They do in fact call out MLS and USL refs every week. On MANY occasions they blatantly state that a ref missed a red card in an attempt to provide a teaching tool for all referees.

  • Ryan says:

    The USSF week in review stuff is actually really well done. The refs on the field are still pretty poor though.


Leave a Comment

More from category

‘Arry Uses His Words

Pro Tip: whenever you interview ‘Arry Redknapp, don’t opine that he might be a [Read More]

CL Group Previews: A is for ‘Arry
CL Group Previews: A is for ‘Arry

With both European competitions now set for the group stages, we thought we’d collect some rapid-fire [Read More]

Sex, Lies, and Stupidity
Sex, Lies, and Stupidity

As busy as we’ve been with actual games these past two weeks, we shouldn’t overlook the attempted social [Read More]

Steven Ireland Looks Back in Anger
Steven Ireland Looks Back in Anger

Stephen Ireland’s debut had a bit of Shakespeare in it, and not just because the Bard might well have been a [Read More]

Saturday Liveblog-Bootroom: Tangerine Dreams Edition
Saturday Liveblog-Bootroom: Tangerine Dreams Edition

Yes, I hope Blackpool can make the Gooner brigade around here unhappy. Do I think it’ll happen? [Read More]

Recent Comments

Anonsters had this to say

I like the cool little Russian chuckle-laugh by the commentator. Ha-ha-ha. Read the post

Anonsters had this to say

Buncha nerds up in here. Read the post

James T had this to say

Not sure, OM. Thinking McBride might be on the verge of retirement... maybe that's the announcement? Anyone's guess. Read the post

Arkie had this to say

Guys! I'm only on book 4!! /wishes he were joking //the audiobooks are good for long drives Read the post

Stoke City Eastern Bloc had this to say

"The game finished 1-1." A well-buried lede, indeed. Read the post