[Solved] Mario Ballotelli

I think Platt raises a good point; it wasn't picked up by the ref during the match, yet the FA see fit to retroactively arbitrate on Monday. I like the idea of a Monday morning decision review, but surely there is inconsistency in terms of looking at this versus other controversial instances.

Filthy bit of play though.

The fa can look at anything that the ref has not noticed and retrospectively give punishment, however if the ref see the incident and takes no action then they can not act.

I know Balotelli's reputation, however I don't think it looks malicious - even our resident spurs fan in DadTalk towers doesn't think it was anything other than an accident.

Gooner

Is it not time to allow each side to review two decisions per half - they go to a video ref and he would make a decision. Not sure how it could work as they would appeal every goal in the hope that something was wrong. Therefore there would have to be some rules around this but it is a thought.

That would then hopefully enable the managers to give an interview at the end where they are not moaning about the officials!!!

Is it not time to allow each side to review two decisions per half - they go to a video ref and he would make a decision. Not sure how it could work as they would appeal every goal in the hope that something was wrong. Therefore there would have to be some rules around this but it is a thought.

That would then hopefully enable the managers to give an interview at the end where they are not moaning about the officials!!!

No video reviews, football is all about the debates about decisions. And anyway video doesn't always clear things up - no one on this thread can agree whether Ballotelli deliberately stamped or over balanced.

Only Ballotelli can say whether this was deliberate or not ...and I'm guessing he won't be saying "it's a fair cop, guv'nor" any time soon.

One strong argument in his favour: I have seen him trying to put a vest on. And I can well believe from that painful display, that he may genuinely struggle to walk, without accidentally standing on people's heads.

That said, my opinion is that he either did it deliberately OR deliberately didn't NOT do it (grammatical OUCH), i.e. maybe he allowed the misplaced foot to happen and maybe he could have had the awareness that there was a blokes head under foot and tried a bit harder to miss it.

It's a fast game full of instant, sometimes rash, decisions made by very young men. I think in the vast majority of cases it's probably very difficult to know how much was accidental and how much was malicious.

I think in this case the ban is right. But I think it's a shame it wasn't spotted on the night. City could have legitimately been two men down ...and had no cause for complaint. It would have been a very different story for Spurs.

Spurs will pick up points from officials making mistakes or missing things this season - I wouldn't worry too much about them.

They look on course to have one of their best seasons for years

Oh yes. Definitely agree. Everyone complains about decisions on the night. But over 38 games, they probably sort themselves out. Win some, lose some, as they say.

Great debate. Balotelli should be in an institution. He is clearly off his rocker but great to watch. Before every game we should just declare him guilty and then see what he does to deserve the tag. The guy lets off fireworks in his house!!

Agreed - he is a nutter, but the league needs headcases it makes it interesting. :huh:

Loved the setting fire to his three million pound rented house. He and his mates were letting off fireworks in the bathroom ;;) , as you do when you're that rich and completely off your rocker.

Who else provides us with stories like this:

After winning 25k at a manchester casino, he hands a young tramp 1k "because he had a ginger beard"
Driving home the police stop him and ask him why he has 24k in notes on the passenger seat to which our young hero answers "because I'm rich"

A young lad asks for his autograph after a training session. Ballotelli asks him why he is not at school, the lad explains its because he is constantly bullied. So Ballotelli, drives to the lads school (picking the lads mum up on the way). Demands that the headmaster allows him to mediate between the bully and the young victim. He sorts it all out and no more bullying.

And of course the bad side - bored one day after training our young hero decides to throw darts at the youth team players to pass the time.

Love him or loath him he is a character and the league would be a more boring place without him.

As good as he maybe, he needs to have a PR to push out more of that. His on field antics are looked upto by kids. My son likes Man City *goes off to be sick* because of the "nice" blue kit and Mario Balottelli. According to him, in his Man City are better than Arsenal rant, the best part of the game was is what Mario does.

Agree league needs characters as it adds fun for the rest of us. League need to continue to ensure that they do keep making an example of such players though when they step over the line as they are really role models to kids out there.

I'm sure he will come back to the fold in due course, back to the Arsenal ;;)