I recently complained to Lord Triesman about the ban imposed on SWP. I copied it here somewhere in an appropriate thread.
I have today received the following interesting response:
Thursday 5 February 2009
Dear Lord Triesman,
I write as a football supporter, regarding an issue which should concern
you in your capacity of Chairman of The Football Association.
Today, Shaun Wright-Philips of Manchester City has been charged for an
alleged incident of violent conduct in the recent game between Stoke
City and Manchester City. This follows a review of evidence by your
colleagues at The FA, after the match referee admitted he didn't see the
incident.
You may be familiar with another recent incident in which Jose Bosingwa
of Chelsea deliberately placed his boot in the back of Yossi Benayoun of
Liverpool, pushing him to the ground. On this occasion, no action was
taken by the match referee (presumably because he did not see it,
because if he had seen it, it would have been a straight red card
punishment). Following a review of this incident by your colleagues, it
has been determined that no further action is deemed necessary.
Please will you explain to me why what appears to be the more serious of
these two incidents has gone unpunished. This smacks of double-standards
by The FA, and is clearly discriminating against Manchester City.
Other incidents this season seem to indicate that The FA shows favour to
the "big four" teams of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and
Arsenal, by applying leniency to them.
I would be interested to hear your comments on this matter.
Yours sincerely,
I have today received the following interesting response:
Dear Mr *
Thank you for your email.
The decisions taken on al the matters to which you refer are taken not
by The FA but by the Football Regulatory Authority (FRA). As a result of
the Burns Review a couple of years ago disciplinary matters were moved
to this semi-autonomous body. It is connected to The FA in that its
decisions are reported to The FA but its hearings are conducted with
judicial distance from us.
As a matter of fact, I don't think there is convincing evidence across a
long period that the bigger clubs are treated differently. You may feel
there are example although I do not think it is the position on a case
to case basis. When you look at the whole pattern and the statistics
over whole seasons, the evidence shows real impartiality. It is
interesting to me that from time to time it is the bigger clubs that
accuse us or the FRA of singling them out because they are the bigger
clubs. It is not true either way round.
Again, I appreciate you getting in touch.
Good wishes
David Triesman
Lord Triesman