The FA have today confirmed that Mario Balotelli will not be punished for celebrating in front of Manchester United fans at the end of the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of examples of players winding up the opposition. Rio Ferdinand was particularly annoyed with Balotelli, given the inciting celebration came at the final whistle rather than amidst the rush of emotion after goal, which makes it slightly different from the examples below.
However, it’s interesting to see how the FA usually deal with situations like this:
January 14th 2006: Robbie Fowler scores against United for City. He runs to the United fans and gives them the five finger salute, rubbing in the success of his former club and United’s main rivals, Liverpool, in Europe.
Punishment? N/A
January 22nd 2006: Gary Neville runs to the Liverpool fans and holds up the United badge after Rio Ferdinand’s later winner.
Punishment? £5k fine
September 12th 2009: Emmanuel Adebayor scored against Arsenal and ran the length of the pitch to slide on his knees in front of the Arsenal fans.
Punishment? £25k fine
September 20th 2009: Shay Given turned to the Stretford End and wildly celebrated Craig Bellamy’s late equaliser for City.
Punishment? N/A
September 20th 2009: Gary Neville ran down the touchline towards the City fans wildly celebrating Michael Owens late winner for United.
Punishment? Warned about future conduct.
April 16th 2011: At the final whistle, Mario Balotelli celebrated a victory for City in front of the United fans by fanning his shirt and punching the air.
Punishment? N/A
Is there a general pattern? No, it appears as though the FA pick out their punishments from a hat.
Man Utd News 24/7
Joke!
Its getting worse. What the fuck? I am seething now.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12920379
Film being made about the Busby Babes – “United”
I expect nothing different from the FA now. Corrupt bastards!
Hypocrites.
Lets start a game.
1. FA = Fucking Arseholes.
2.
We should just get used to it and the players can use it as motivation.when we win 19 it’ll rub it in even more for the cunts!!
insteresting article.. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/04/19/2448660/manchester-united-are-not-maximising-andersons-attacking
All the more reason to bag this title. Fucking sons of bitches at the FA.
The more I see that picture of Fowler, the more I want him killed. Fat coke snorting cunt.
Anderson scores goals?
When?
Fergie was completely right with giving Ando a more defensively role than he was used to.
His physical strenght and his speed are big advantages in the defensive work.
The FA are 100% self serving Cunts. For them its all about maintaining the status quo and “being seen” to be doing something… or the other.
Rest assured, if Rooney and Alex hadn’t already been banned this year Anderson and Rio would certainly be up for a charge right now. The FA “judge” these incidents like the English Courts do, ARBITRARILY, and just like theres no ‘complete’ body of English law, there is no ‘complete’ body of FA rules either. Instead, so many loopholes are inserted into the rules and guidelines, the FA are able to make it up as they go along and legitimate it later. So, im sure an FA lawyer could quote the rules to justify every example in this thread, even though the INCONSISTENCY of these punishments is clear for us all to see.
So on the one hand, of course, the FA are outrageous and shocking and unfair….
But on the other hand, thats how this entire flipping Country is run, never mind the FA…
Whether its goal line technology, or replays, or holding refs accountable for decisions, the FA have been resisting change every step of the way. Ferguson was banned for being vocal on the need for a “change” to current rules, and as such all Managers have since been silenced while the band plays on. Thankfully these “issues” won’t go away, but the FA won’t reform itself without a fight either. So good work Scott!! hope your in it for the long haul mate! Its a worthy cause. Club Loyalties aside, the game has to become accountable to the common supporters again. We have no voice on how English football is run. They’ll punish EPL Managers as well as Parents at the Grassroot level for questioning the Ref, BELIEVE me, but they will fight nail and tooth to avoid consultation and dialogue to improve the current system. All that, despite all the money pumped into the game by common supporters? Its a disgrace.
Don’t mean to stir the pot but that fucking cunt who missed the Drogba offside last season at OT is one of the linesman in the Cup Final. Lets hope he misses Kenwyne Jones offside although I highly doubt it.
I e-mailed the FA about this and I got this reply:
Thank you for contacting the FA. In response to your question, I refer you to Rule 089869 Paragraph B which clearly states: FA Codes of Conduct are only applicable to the players, management and staff of Manchester United Football Club. Any punishments can be applied up to 3 Ice Ages after the event at a time determined to be most detrimental to MUFCs campaign. The FA is under no obligation to apply punishments to any other club or individual and reserves the right to make rules up as we go along, particularly when incited by the British media. The players, management, staff and supporters of MUFC can all fuck off, we want City/Arsenal/Chelsea/Liverpool to win.
The FA are a bunch of cunts…………………………………
wish all united players would tell ingurland, to stick there caps where the sun does not shine.
so fuck the FA & lets get behind our team number 19 is so close……………………
Fair enough to say the FA are bitter, and our neighbors are more bitter still. Ha ha ha ha hh;hhhaaa says I. We have a title to win and need to stay focused. We can rub it in their noses then. Who is going to talk about the others when we win the 19th title? Who is it then? Could care less about the FA and their chairman who seems hell bent on supporting his former club. Bring it on.
See you at the title celebration lads. Anyone know who the ref is for todays match?
The FA are not fit for the purpose judgements should be even handed.Fairness means without Discrimination or Dishonesty I don’t think the FA practice that.
wouldnt give em the airtime scott
If anyone is complaining about Democracy or how it is being applied in countries the following people or groups cannot speak.
1. The ENTIRE FA board.
2. ABUs that refuse to judges fairly.
If they speak on issues of fairness it just looks like a dog barking to me. I can’t hear shit.
L. Probert is the ref today
Zelh says:
Anderson scores goals?
When?
Lol believe it or not right before he came to us mate. He won the Golden Ball at the South American U17 Championships and he scored a couple in the U17 World Cup and 2008 Olympics as well. Interestingly, he hasn’t played senior International football since moving to United and playing DM, but BIG things were expected of him as an AM before he arrived in England. Its easy to forget he hasn’t played in his normal position since he’s been here, and he hasn’t kicked up a shit storm about it, which is a credit to the lad. Also, at Gremio he scored 10 odd goals from midfield and got his team promoted, thats how he got into the Brazil team to win the Golden Ball in the first place.
So although his shooting has been shocking for us, theres more to it than that, I think he needs to play forward a bit more, otherwise he’s being wasted with us. Having said that, I agree mate, his physical strength and pace ARE top draw. We just have to wait and see what type of player he pans out to be, he’s only just turned 23 this month, hopefully we haven’t seen anything yet.
Don’t let it get to you lads. we got a game today. when we win #19 its going to be a spit on all ABU faces vamos
CUUUUUUUUUUUUUNTS
I think its about time we just forget about how the FA goes about its business and concentrate on what our club can do to avoid the useless cunts giving us bans and fines that seem not to be incurted any where else or not at the same level of severity.
incurred
WHAT ??? – I know he can score goals, like he did in the reserve. And I don’t think he needs to play higher up the pitch. He’s lot’s of freedom in midfield while carrick is sitting back. Just needs a run of games and a year without injuries. that’s his biggest problem.
What like he did at West Brom away, nah he is much more effective in a deeper role, where his passing and ability to get forward is better utilised.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/909089/fa-appoints-ferguson-row-ref-atkinson-for-wembley-cup-final?cc=5739
what a fucking joke…
Torres also showed 5 fingers after he equalized for Liverpool in the 4-1 loss at OT. And I think Danny Murhpy did the same in our recent game with Fulham just before he took a corner kick.
The FA: Filthy Asswipes
Come on lads, let it lie, the FA have been cunts for years, fact.
Did you seriously expect something else?
@Zelh and Mattbw7
I actually think Alex has improved his game. Ando has become a very good box to box midfielder, but like you said Zelh, he needs a decent run of games with no injuries to cement his game and secure that spot. But the way he can steal the ball and bang, split the defence, or lay it off for the one two then run into space, thats what I like seeing him do. Working the ball from deep to bring it forward. A bit like Flecther when he’s fit and in form you’d want Ando playing fairly deep, so he can break up play with the final third to run into, so sitting deep per se isn’t the problem. If anything I think its who do you partner him with in the middle? He played some of his best stuff alongside Hargreaves, and I think he’s suffered because of the Clubs loyalty and reluctance to immediately replace him. Bringing in Valencia upped Nani’s game, so we’ll have to wait and see what Ferguson’s plans are for midfield.
Having said that, TONIGHT I’d love to see Ando start with Carrick or Giggs alongside him. He looked hungry on Saturday.
my reply from the FA Thank you for contacting The Football Association.
The FA takes a dim view of any foul and abusive language used at football matches. The clear distinction to be made in the Wayne Rooney case is that the language used was directed specifically at a television camera lens, whilst clearly audible to the viewing public. We will always take a view on every incident reported to us by match officials, who also have the ability to apply Law 12 in relation to insulting and abusive language or gestures.
The FA values the opinions of football supporters and we thank you for getting in touch with us to share your views.
Kind regards
arseholes
I think Balotelli was just confused as to where he was, lol! Nobody will ever accuse him of being the sharpest knife in the drawer.
The truth:
I don’t give a shit anymore with the FA
The whole point about being United is just that
As long as Manchester United is one nothing will be able to touch us
Why is it everytime I look at this blog its becoming more of the same, them against us. Its getting kinda tiring now, we know the FA like to hit us with fines and bans. I remember the days when I enjoyed coming to this site to see funny stuff, light hearted humor and gossip. Now its all the bloody same crap and more importantly its totally pointless, we’ll never get the FA to change their ways, just a simple truth. And its only highlighted more coz of the useless twats in the media wanting use to watch Sky Sports news all day and paying for papers that basically are not that informative when it comes to the truth.
So Scott can we have the old light-hearted humour back? The good ol piss takes? and some more gossip/information going about.
Like I said its getting pretty boring now and personally I think its best for all to get behind the team, secure 19th title and hopefully a successful champions league. I want to go to Old Trafford enjoying our position at the top of the table, and hopefully securing the title against Chelsea and savouring every moment of it.
Anyway the sun is shining, its the best weather for booze and women wearing next to nothing, so lets enjoy
Shay Given didn’t get away with it completely, thanks to Owen
but back to topic:
FA = c*nts.
@Wearing green and gold makes me look fat
It has always been them against us
This season especially after how they have treated us and then refuse to apply the same forget the law for a moment – call it logic – and you begin to see the hypocrisy beyond words
Maybe you don’t come here often enough – I assure you we do light heartedness better than anybody
Other’s will testify to that…
wearing green and gold – Plenty of laughs on here mate. Regarding the women wearing less. Oh yes. I work in a school and at the risk of sounding a nonce you should see the fucking sixth formers at this time of year!!
Wheres smartalex these days?
No Rio. Smalling in for him. Hernandez and Rooney up front. Ando starts as well.
The FA are a bunch of cunts, always have been always will be, we need to just take it on the chin or it will forever wind us up that they are so stupid and lack any footballing common sense, there so out of touch with the game and supporters its a genuine joke.
Ballotelli is a twat, but as much as he deserves a good smack in the face by our lot, i dont want to see players fined/warning about stuff like that, it makes the game more exciting and keeps rivalries alive, but at the same time if its okay for one player it should be for another that meaning if a city player does it and its okay it should be for a United player..
Just more FA bias bullshit but we keep on proving no matter who they ban who they fine, we will always dominate English football, you’d think with what we do worldwide for the english game they’d be on our side.
Giggs starts as well.
VDS – O’Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra – Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs – Rooney, Chicha
9 out of 11.
Enough of the FA Already. we’ve done our best …….. MOVING ON!!! we have a game tonight this game , along with every other game we have left this season, is a title decider in my opinion with the way things are looking. win this game and we don’t need to beat arsenal or chelsea to secure 19. We’ll be 9 points ahead of the arses and they are heading into their traditional hell ( white hart lane) tomorrow. Looking good. WE MUST win this game though.
Come on, we’ve got a game on soon or has anyone forgotten that. not saying scott and the rest of the ROM crowd is obsessed but come on lets get on with it. The FA will continue to be the shit body they are and one shouldn’t look away from the mess they’re making but like i said lads, we’ve got a game on, lets get behind the boys and help them get over the weekend loss.Come on United
what else is new? Double standards?? Just as old as our sucsess.
Btw – when emailing FA, dont use Roo as an example. Question the rules and get answer according to them, not the Rooney case which they always will answer the same way.
I got 8/11. I’m human, after all.
Subs: Owen, Park, Fabio, Evans, Valencia, Gibson, Kuszczak.
I take it Berbatov really tweaked his knee when he missed that chance? I don’t see any other reason why he is not even on the bench.
What happened to rio? Injured again? Line – up is really strong.
S<ving Rio for CL – He can't play every game – we need him for CL and the 2 big PL games.
Pick it from a hat!!?? Ha are you kidding? Thats bogus..celebration or aggitation? Hmm which will it be this time?