Hi guys..... for what it's worth, the disciplinary procedure set out by the FA covers reporting by the referee, not (as in this case) one club appealing to the FA to look at an incident... therefore this is not covered by the regulations shown and the deadlines are void....
Secondly (again FWIW) I spoke to a Football League referee yesterday, he sits next to me at White Hart Lane when he is not reffing, and he said the refs as a whole are trying to outlaw the "scissor" tackle, it is dangerous end of story..... no matter whether or not the force is excessive or not, the "scissoring" action as shown by the NDJ tacklecan cause major damage.
Atkinson (the ref) was carpeted in the refs debrief on Monday morning, but as he did not give a foul or a yellow they can now look at the incident again.... and they will..... if he had booked NDJ that would have been the end of it......
IMHO he will get a mandatory 3 match ban for "violent conduct" with an additional 1 game ban to make an example of him...... if he appeals it, they will add another game..... so at best 4 games, at worst 5......
I don't think that will have an effect on him as a person, what will affect him is next time he goes into a tackle (a) he is not right mentally and pulls out halfway and injures himself or (b) he goes in with a full blooded challenge and gets a red card as the refs will be looking for him..
I feel sorry in a way as the tackle although overly forceful, was not malicious.... but he has previous...... and the refs will now be looking for him..... he will get cards now based on who he is.....
And the only person to come out in support of NDJ??? Van Bommel..... it's like the Bin Laden coming out in support of Saddam Hussein.......