Firstly, I think the horrible challenge and its effect on Ramsey’s leg has detracted from a detailed analyses of the game wherein I felt Arsenal stop up very well to Stoke and even changed their playing tactic in such a way that the ball spent the minimum time possible in Arsenal’s half. Also, in spite of everything, after Cesc scored the second goal, I thought I saw Cesc face Pulis’ direction and place his finger across his lips (i.e. telling him to shut up). It irked Pulis greatly but it amused me a lot and I thought that it just demonstrated Cesc and the team he leads’ willingness to take the fight to the Stoke Cities of this world and to fight till they dropped.

With respect to the tackle, the people that should talk about it most (i.e. the FA) have kept very quiet. Is thia the norm? I see that this is the spirit of this omerta contribution but how can they be nudged into taking action – as Spain, Italy and Belgium had apparently done? Some years ago, Italy was well known for its cruncy defence and defenders ending the careers of such great footballers as Marco Van Bersten. These days, the defenders still play hard but there are now fewer injuries…the FA ought to act as speedily as possible before talented footballers international consciously try to give playing in England a wide berth or before the careers of promising British footballers are cut short unceremoniously…what goes around have a bad way of coming around when and where it is least expected.
Diaby – France, Dudu – Croatia, Ramsey – Wales; the next one a promising or well established English player?
FD

Rooney will now be a target for some kicking as team knew that he got a short fuse and easily wound-up.

Let’s just enjoy the sight of Rooney kick from pillar to post in Europe and in World Cup 2010 as without him, England is toothless.

Chelski vs Stoke City.
Lovely to watch both teams kicking lumps out of each other.

“Raphael Honigstein’s book on the peculiarities of English football, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger. Die geheime Geschichte des englischen Fußballs, was published in German by Kiepenheuer & Witsch in 2006, and the English version Englischer Fussball: A German View of Our Beautiful Game was published by Yellow Jersey Press in 2008.

I’d also recommend the ‘It’s up for grabs now’ podcast this week. Alan Davies account and reaction to what happened on his twitter feed after he recommended Shawcross be banned for as long as the injured player is out, is interesting.

Now the Belgian Fa does noet dare to appeal on this because it could make Fifa angry and they could throw Belgium and Holland out of the world cup bid.

VIII. ARBITRATION 47
3. The Associations shall insert a clause in their statutes or regulations, stipulating that it is prohibited to take disputes in the Association or disputes affecting Leagues, members of Leagues, clubs, members of clubs, Players, Officials and other Association Officials to ordinary courts of law, unless the FIFA regulations or binding legal provisions specifically provide for or stipulate recourse to ordinary courts of law. Instead of recourse to ordinary courts of law, provision shall be made for arbitration.
Such disputes shall be taken to an independent and duly constituted arbitration tribunal recognised under the
rules of the Association or Confederation or to CAS.
The Associations shall also ensure that this stipulation is implemented in the Association, if necessary by imposing a binding obligation on its members.
The Associations shall impose sanctions on any party that fails to respect this obligation and ensure that any appeal against such sanctions shall likewise be strictly submitted to arbitration, and not to ordinary courts of law.

So once again I am no lawyer but it seems that is is forbidden to go to a court according to Fifa but they can not stop a club from doing this. It has happened before in Belgium.
But to avoid this Fifa is punishing the country’s Fa for letting those things happening.

So maybe if Arsenal threatens to start a legal procedure against Shawcross, the ref and the FA it could put pressure on the FA because it could end that Fifa says to the FA : clean up your mess or we don’t let you have the world cup or even worse they don’t allow England in the world cup this year.

So it could mean that in this case Arsenal doesn’t even have to win a case just go to court, put pressure up the Fa and tell them that Arsenal is willing to drop the charges if the Fa and the refs start protecting their players.

I think we should punish the player and give him a ban of at least 10 games. But it is not easy to get this out of the game. After the Witsel-Wasilewski incident in Belgium the refs have taken action and have handed out red cards as if it was nothing. Evere dangerous tackle got a red card and I really have the feeling right now that it is starting to work. But to change the mentallity of people is a work that takes a long time.

I also think that the fact they gave Witsel a ban of 15 games (later reduced to 9 games – a big mistake by the Belgian FA in my opinion) was a signal that you don’t get away with it that easy.

But besided punishing the player one should also work on other angles.
I must say that I am not a lawyer and I dont know how the British laws are but in Belgium there have been precedents where injured football players went to court and won their case. Maybe it is not even needed to win the case but if you ask a very high financial compensation at first of several million pounds this could be enough to make those thugs think twice before trying to attack our players.

Maybe if you can start a law case against the Fa for negligence (they are responsible for the refs and the instructions they give to the refs) and demand an enormous som of money this could also cause the FA to act because if there is a judge that would follow Ramsey and Arsenal it could cost them a lot of money.

Now I think of it if I would be Arsenal I would go to court against the FA. If I remember right the FA wants to get a world cup to England in 2018 ? But I think that if a club is chargin their FA in court for some reason they could be banned from world cups and from organising world cups.
So it could mean that the FA gives explicite instructions to the refs to stop the kicking them off the field tactics.

And at the end of the day that is all we want. 3 players seeing kicked to pieces in 4 years is more than enough and I don’t want this anymore.

You’ve hit the nail on the head: “The FA, Premier League, and the ‘football-media complex’ pays ironic homage to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger’s achievements by reinforcing its exceptionalism (a double edged-sword, as Arsenal’s difference is often used as an alibi for its negative treatment). In reality, in terms of the coaching, culture and financing in place at Arsenal, the club should be held up as a model for emulation.”

The player in question though will have done this no matter what I’m afraid..

End of the day we agree “I think

But just as I wouldnt attack the character of a person who made a mistake and seriously injured someone whilst driving (I might call them stupid, but that’s different) I dont think it appropriate to attack the character of shawcross based on this tackle.
Maybe he deserves more of an attack for the adebayor challenge because there was clear intent to hurt, but it still wasn’t a proper leg-breaker like keane on haaland.

Instead we have many people who think like you which I agree only partially… It is a widespread problem with the refs but… Players are getting away with it because they committ the slaughter and blame refs for letting em do it?

Stupidity..

See how wengers words were twisted immediately after the game. At that point you could forgive someone for being emotional but they take the worst possible connotations from what he said.
See what we’re up against:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/mcgovern/2010/03/02/arsene-wenger-paranoia-is-shaw-embarrassing-115875-22079479/

Most disgusting article Ive read.
But that’s the point. If you attack shawcross, they turn it against you. They call YOU the animal. It’s all politics and propaganda.

That is illogical.

So if you have an automobile and the traffic light is red no police around it’s their fault if you go through it?

Money on a bar for tip no one around you take it it;s OK?

Shawcross made the tackle not me… He deserves the punishement that fits the crime.. 10 years in the hole.. Just kidding. But at least a three month ban including counseling!

Right now Shawcross got promoted!

Where is your outrage? Or are you enabling?

Your last bit “It doesnt mean theyr evil people but both were stupid and excessive challenges.”

Can’t I decide that for myself?

Am I going to think less of you if you left out that disclaimer?

Actually what if I thought they were evil people? Maybe I think less of you now. Stop hiding these thugs or at least stop throwing out disclaimers. These people are who they are. The less comfort they receive the more accountable they become.

Everyone for GOD sake stop enabling THUGS. They need to face the music, If after every harsh comment made against them it is followed up with an excuse…Which is mostly incorrect what good is the first point!