Mario Balotelli Dodges Ban For Studs-Up Horror Lunge On Alex Song As Referee ‘Saw The Incident’

Alan Duffy

10th, April 2012

17 Comments

By Alan Duffy


“Smashing tackle, Mario – but next time actually break his leg!”

Premier League football seems to be reaching a tipping point in terms of the relationship between match officials and clubs.  More and more managers are venting their frustration at the performance of referees and their assistants as more and more game-changing errors are being made by the men in the black. Well at least that’s how it has looked in recent months.

Coming hot on the heels of the FA’s decision not to rescind Shaun Derry’s ridiculous red card against Man Utd comes the news that mad Mario Balotelli is to face no further punishment for his appalling knee-high assault on Alex Song at the Emirates on Sunday.

The reason? Apparently referee Martin Atkinson has told the powers that be that he actually saw the incident and judged it not to be a foul. Therefore, the FA’s hands are apparently tied and so the reckless Italian loon gets away with it.

Yet again, I really do not know how Atkinson or, indeed, the FA can justify this decision.

Surely this whole ‘respect’ deal is a two-way street?

Posted in Arsenal, FAIL, Hardmen, Man City

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17 Comments

  1. 22 says:

    Thats fucking stupid

  2. Miguel - NYC says:

    The Ref should get the suspension that Balotelli should have gotten.

  3. qwerty says:

    Derry’s red card and this? What a joke!

  4. LCFC says:

    Surely if he saw it and deemed it not a foul when it should actually have been a red card means Atkinson will receive a suspension for basically not doing his job?

  5. Mr. Sparkle says:

    This season has been shocking for refereeing and general behaviour both on and off the pitch.

  6. Mr Sensible says:

    Who at the FA came up with these stupid fucking rules!!!!

    It’s not hard is it. All they have to do is watch the replays and clearly see Balotelli’s foul was absolutely disgusting and deserving of a red and that Derry’s was not a foul or red card at all, contact does not mean foul! Football is a CONTACT SPORT!

    I give up with the FA. Bunch of c*nts!

  7. usrick says:

    Idiotic, but hardly shocking. This is, after all, the FA we’re talking about.

  8. Jimmy says:

    So no snide comments about the “Ferguson Association”, then?

  9. Anonymous says:

    easy to see why England can’t win an international tournament where rules normally apply for at least some of the time.

  10. Jarren says:

    Saw the game live. At first the tackle looked bad. Very bad.

    On the replays, I actually winced.

    Balotelli didn’t maliciously mean to injure Song. But the fact remains that he could very well have ended the career of an incredibly talented footballer with one moment of naivety.

    Straight red.

    Mr. Atkinson, you are a respected referee but honestly, that was NOT a foul? Not a red card, not a yellow card, not even a free kick?

    A fair challenge?

    Respect is won and lost, and Mr. Atkinson has lost a fair amount in this one decision.

  11. KKK says:

    Obviously is much worse to call someone a “negro”, than to end their career with a brutally vicious challenge. Carry on Mario. Carry on FA.

  12. Jarren says:

    You can’t justify either. The difference is that Balotelli did not have intent.

    He should have been sent off for dangerous play.

    The other incident you speak of, regarding a certain Uruguayan, was 100% intentional.

    Regarding your choice of name, ironic or not, it’s hard to take someone called “KKK” seriously…

  13. Rob says:

    Not really surprised with anything the FA do anymore
    As for the ref admitting to seeing it but not thinking it was a foul just proves how clueless they are these days.

    KKK, you need to get a life mate.

  14. Wolf Haley says:

    @Jimmy – The Ferguson Association understand that an unbanned Balotelli is more detrimental to Man City than a banned Balotelli, and therefore have decided not to ban him. Play on playa

  15. 4EVERED says:

    Martin Atkinson needs to be relegated to the lower leagues. He might then learn what a foul is.

    Serious Alex Song got lucky. That high would have ruined his career.

  16. lurker says:

    song made a meal of it, then? rubbish.

  17. Dan says:

    All clubs should do a “Kerry Packer” and feck the FA off and start with a new governing body. Put me in charge, I’ll sort it out!

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