[h=1]FA sanctions retrospective action on foul play[/h]
Matt Hughes Deputy Football Correspondent
Last updated at 5:02PM, July 12 2013
The FA outlined its determination to clamp down on dangerous tackling yesterday by confirming an amendment to its constitution that will give the governing body the authority to take retrospective disciplinary action from next season.
In response to the furore last season over Callum McManaman, the FA has closed a loophole in its rulebook that will permit the sanctioning of players who have escaped punishment for serious foul play because the incidents were partially seen by match officials.
From next month, the FA will the have right to take retrospective action and impose a punishment when match officials have not been in a position to fully assess a “coming together” of players, even if it does constitute serious foul play, such as Ben Thatcher’s infamous challenge on Pedro Mendes.
The amendment follows McManaman’s knee-high tackle on Massadio Haïdara, of Newcastle United, in which the referee’s view of the incident was blocked, while the other match officials were not in a position to judge exactly what had occurred.
However, because one of the officials said on that occasion that he had “seen” the incident, but not fully realised exactly what happened, the FA could not act and McManaman escaped punishment.
“Prior to this change, which was ratified by the Football Regulatory Authority, the FA was only able to take retrospective action when none of the match officials had seen the ‘coming together’, or when the incident was truly exceptional,” the governing body explained in a statement.
The FA insisted that the change would not lead to it re-refereeing games and that it would not undermine the authority of referees.
“This change is not intended to usurp the authority of the match officials who are, in the vast majority of cases, best placed to deal with incidents at the time they occur,” the statement added. “It will only be utilised in the rare circumstances outlined above.”
Matt Hughes Deputy Football Correspondent
Last updated at 5:02PM, July 12 2013
The FA outlined its determination to clamp down on dangerous tackling yesterday by confirming an amendment to its constitution that will give the governing body the authority to take retrospective disciplinary action from next season.
In response to the furore last season over Callum McManaman, the FA has closed a loophole in its rulebook that will permit the sanctioning of players who have escaped punishment for serious foul play because the incidents were partially seen by match officials.
From next month, the FA will the have right to take retrospective action and impose a punishment when match officials have not been in a position to fully assess a “coming together” of players, even if it does constitute serious foul play, such as Ben Thatcher’s infamous challenge on Pedro Mendes.
The amendment follows McManaman’s knee-high tackle on Massadio Haïdara, of Newcastle United, in which the referee’s view of the incident was blocked, while the other match officials were not in a position to judge exactly what had occurred.
However, because one of the officials said on that occasion that he had “seen” the incident, but not fully realised exactly what happened, the FA could not act and McManaman escaped punishment.
“Prior to this change, which was ratified by the Football Regulatory Authority, the FA was only able to take retrospective action when none of the match officials had seen the ‘coming together’, or when the incident was truly exceptional,” the governing body explained in a statement.
The FA insisted that the change would not lead to it re-refereeing games and that it would not undermine the authority of referees.
“This change is not intended to usurp the authority of the match officials who are, in the vast majority of cases, best placed to deal with incidents at the time they occur,” the statement added. “It will only be utilised in the rare circumstances outlined above.”