Dembele - Costa

[thinktank]

If Dembele gets anything more than a 5 game ban I think he/we should contest it.

And they have to highlight that he was provoked.

 

[yankspurs]

Do you think those incidents deserved bans? What was everyone saying about them at the time?

Fine if you want to kick up a fuss about them making an example of Dembele rather than someone from another team.

Personally I'd rather see this sort of cowardly pathetic 'play' stamped out of the game altogether, and if it takes one of our own being punished for being a prick to set a precedent that should have been set before then fair enough.

I want it stamped out too. But it is unfair to pick and choose what players and club get the ban and is unfair to finally start going harsh now during the season. If you are going to start doing so, then tweak the rules and punishments after the season so teams learn of the new regulations before the new season.

 

[yankspurs]

Surely that proves that he didn't see it? Unless he can see straight through their heads to the other side of Costa's face? He can probably see a push, but not the details.

From that angle, it seems to me that the linesman clearly saw it. It looks like he's looking directly over Mousa's shoulder from that angle.

 

[Danners9]

And they have to highlight that he was provoked.

This will be Chelsea's third charge of the season, on top of Costa's individual charges. This should be enough to make a case for provocation being part of their tactics - ie, not a heat of the moment incident but a concerted effort to disrupt the game.

Violent conduct is one thing, I don't think you can defend too much against a hand in the face - we all know that's meant to be a red card, but going out of your way yet again to do this in a match shows a complete disregard for the rules and spirit of the game, and the authority of the referee. That, surely, is bringing the game into disrepute. Alongside the pre-match comments from Hiddink, Fabregas and Hazard.

If you watch the video that Lufti posted twice you see little snide digs here and there, and then playing the victim. Spurs weren't as subtle. The blame is on both, as are the charges for failing to control the players, but there is much more to it than that.

 

[nailsy]

From that angle, it seems to me that the linesman clearly saw it. It looks like he's looking directly over Mousa's shoulder from that angle.

I don't think so. I think if he did see it Dembele would have been red carded. No way he would have just ignored it.

 

[glacierSpurs]

Surely that proves that he didn't see it? Unless he can see straight through their heads to the other side of Costa's face? He can probably see a push, but not the details.

the linesman may not have seen through Dembele's face to see the dick's eye being scratched, but surely he could see Demeble's hand on the dick's face..

and from the angle, I do not think the dick's face is completely obscured by Dembele's head, cos the dick's head was tilted to Dembele's left..

 

[spursfan77]

He doesn't actually get the eye at all now I've seen it again. It's the cheek. That will be dembele's argument. If he says that's what he's trying to do then how can they prove otherwise?

 

[nailsy]

the linesman may not have seen through Dembele's face to see the dick's eye being scratched, but surely he could see Demeble's hand on the dick's face..

and from the angle, I do not think the dick's face is completely obscured by Dembele's head, cos the dick's head was tilted to Dembele's left..

I don't anyone did anything to his japs eye. Not unless it was Fabregas in the tunnel.

 

[mattie g]

I'm sure we won't roll over.

I'm sure he won't get the ban he deserves.

Personally I think that's bad for football.

But hey-ho as long as it's okay for Spurs.

But it wasn't an eye gouge. If it were, then I think nearly all of us would be willing to say that Dembele deserves whatever is coming to him. A slow-motion replay of an incident whose "damage" even Costa couldn't correctly feign doesn't do anything to prove Dembele's guilt.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

who knows what that **** costa did to our lads outside our vision

No one is talking about his intentional forearm to Walker's face. Quick glance down, then suddenly his arm sped up and changed direction. Just the way he grabbed Walker by the legs afterwards should have been a definite booking.

There is also no mention in the media about the multiple times Spurs players were pushed in the face, or the 2 or 3 times that a Chelsea player lent in with their head, and it looks like Fabregas is getting away with his kick just because he missed. All arguably straight reds, but weren't even yellows. Terry was down playing the need to look back at video footage cos he knew too well that Chelsea were also guilty of a lot.

 

[Ironskullll]

If we're talking about 'intent' in incidents which aren't seen by officials, then surely this kick out at 00:35 is intent which was missed by the officials? Not saying it's as severe but again, where's the consistency? Seems like they just go with whatever the media picks up on to keep everyone happy

Edit: Also, if you go to 2:24, the Dembele incident doesn't look anywhere near as bad in full speed, looks so much worse when slowed it down and in stills

You can clearly tell from Costa's non-reaction that absolutely nothing untoward has happened to him.

 

[Ironskullll]

And that's absolutely fair enough (well except actually most people aren't questioning that).

But I'd rather see the game stamp it out with a harsh sentence and then stick to that next time, than allow everyone to get away with it from here on in because of a previous mistake. If we go down that route then it will never be cut out of the game.

But I suspect most people will continue to argue on the grounds of what is good for their club rather than what is good for the game, the FA will continue to be inconsistent, and we'll continue to see these pillocks get involved in these sorts of cowardly incidents.

But what is it we're trying to stamp out? Eye-gouging? Well ban the players that eye-gouge then. That's no eye-gouge, whatever else it might be.

 

[E17yid]

Scratching isn't really a problem that needs to be stamped out, is it? I'd much rather see diving and harassment of the ref stamped out than this shit. It was handbags, as it always is in football. Having said that it is out of the norm, you don't see it often, with that in mind I'd say a 5-6 game is fair and that's what I expect

 

[riggi]

you raise your hand towards someone's eye in that manner and you deserve a ban. Fucking stupid thing to do. Would of thought he would of learnt from alli lashing out. If this was another player I wouldn't blink twice at a longer than 3 game ban.

Praying it's not 10.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I think they should write the entire match off in terms of actions in retrospect towards players. So many players did so much shit, either go after each single one and "charge" them (ie. convict without further proceedings) or let it go on accounts of the ref's lack of ability to align choice of approach with match development. It is outrageous to assign a historically flexible and lenient ref to a clash like this, and not take responsibility when the deliberately lenient approach contributed to the match getting out of control. We can't relieve refs, and in extension the whole FA from responsibility just because players can be convicted without trial in hindsight.

The rules changed last season, players can still be charged even if it was seen by an official.

Not contesting you, seriously asking:
What when the official FA statement reads that no official saw the incident, even if an official was practically so close his best defence is that he was blind. What then?

 

[Wirral Spurs]

I hope we contest the charge to reduce any heavy handed fine for the reasons highlighted by all above. The good thing is we have Levy handling this, he will be no pushover.

 

[walton]

Deserved hefty ban coming up. Hopefully it'll include preseason friendlies against Stevenage, Blyth Spartans, and a Tblisi all-star XI.

 

[thinktank]

I hope we contest the charge to reduce any heavy handed fine for the reasons highlighted by all above. The good thing is we have Levy handling this, he will be no pushover.

He needs to get them to consider that the chelsea fans were spitting on us boys when they arrived. That rat of a club set the tone way before kick-off.

 

[dagraham]

He doesn't actually get the eye at all now I've seen it again. It's the cheek. That will be dembele's argument. If he says that's what he's trying to do then how can they prove otherwise?

I don't think that argument will hold. The only way I can see a successful appeal is if we can highlight a few very similar instances where a player has got away with it and point to Dembele having no history of any violent conduct.

Even then, I think he's facing a substantial ban.

 

[RButch]

It's a 5/6 match ban for me, gotta set an example for those kind of offences. Any more is a travesty.