Super Mario Bothers

Just like the infamous t-shirt he flashed to the world asking “why always me”, many are indeed asking why always you Mario Balotelli? The latest incident on a long Balotelli rap-sheet is an alleged stamp on the head to Tottenham’s Scott Parker. The referee for the match between Manchester City and Tottenham was Howard Webb, who in the officiating arena is highly regarded. However, during the match Webb did not take any action when the clash occurred. It is questionable whether Webb saw the whole occurrence fully. Without the benefit of multiple TV replays whilst having to make a quick decision as it happens, Webb may simply have felt that this was an unintentional coming-together between Balotelli and Parker.

Unlike the live match officials and studying Balotelli’s ‘footwork’ slowed down through TV pictures, I am in no doubt that the controversial Italian purposely aimed to stamp on Parker’s head. The FA have reviewed the situation and have acted by taking retrospective action against Balotelli, and have handed the Manchester City striker a four game ban for his alleged assult.

Now I applauded the authorities for placing some sort of punishment on Balotelli’s stamp, however I question if the correct outcome has stemmed from a correct and fair course of action. The assertion the FA have made is that Howard Webb did not see the altercation whilst officiating, with Webb stating that if he indeed saw the ‘challenge’ he would have taking action at the time. Now judging from Webb's declaration and the ban the FA have dished out, one can purely assume Webb would have sent Balotelli off for the want of a better term for ‘over aggressive play’. 

An automatic three game ban would have been given to Balotelli for his offence, and this is what has been handed out retrospectively. However, due to the fact that this would not have been the first time this season Balotelli would have been sent off, an extra one game ban has been triggered to set Balotelli's punishment to a four game suspension being given. It must be highlighted that is the course of action for all players who effectively have been sent off twice during the season, and is not a special case for Mario Balotelli.

In assessing the event I feel that the whole scenario has been judged on the chequered reputation the Italian has, and not solely on the incident’s own merits. In my eyes Howard Webb saw the incident sufficiently, but in real time and the game being played so fast did not deem Balotelli's right foot to have intentionally stamped on Parker’s head.  

I cannot help feeling that such has been the public fallout in the game's aftermath and who the accused is, Webb is now claiming that he did not see the stamping incident leaving the door open for retrospective action to be handed out. Some may feel I am incorrect in my opinion but if a fair line of appraisal has been employed, how can Jolean Lescott go unpunished for what I described as a premeditated and clear forearm smash to the face of Younès Kaboul?

Just like Balotelli's transgression, video footage of the Lescott-Kaboul incident was shown to Webb with the official once again claiming he did not see the incident during play. A fair enough point as we as spectators forget that with the speed of how the game is played today, and the numerous television cameras that engulf stadiums, it is extremely difficult for the officials to see absolutely every incident that transpires on the field. In saying that I find it hard to digest that after a second review, Webb declares that he would not have done anything about Lescott’s roaming forearm at the time. Therefore claiming that it did not merit any sort of punishment, and simply was an unintentional typical football occurrence. Baffling! That is the word that comes to my mind of Webb’s estimation. A thought which only compounds my conclusion that Webb has acted on who the incidents have featured, rather than the severity of the skirmishes. 

Over the course of the same weekend, TV pictures show Stoke’s Peter Crouch deliberately raking the eyes of West Brom’s Jonas Olsson. Yet from a retrospective view when shown the footage, the referee of this game thinks that this does not deserve further punishment. I cannot help but think if this was Mario Balotelli, Joey Barton, or a high profile figure like Wayne Rooney, there would be constant scrutiny from the media and some sort of action would be taken in one form or another.

I am a Liverpool fan and thought that it was slightly harsh on Jay Spearing for getting a red card during a match against Fulham in December. A sending off for what was seen as an excessive challenge despite Spearing clearly winning the ball. Nevertheless, I can concede that depending on one’s perspective the tackle merited a sending off. But can recall a few weeks later when Newcastle visited Liverpool at Anfield, Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye contested or should I say attempted to contest the ball against Jay Spearing with a blatant two footed lunge. A ‘tackle’ that had no attempt to win the ball, and was far worse than what Spearing did against Fulham, however Cabaye escaped sufficient punishment.

I am not excusing Balotelli and feel that his ban is fully deserved. In my estimation the talented striker was aware of what he was trying to do in stamping on Scott Parker’s head. Actions like this are cowardly and it is a real shame that players forget that football is a game, and some of their over zealous actions on the field can have some serious lasting consequences to their fellow players of the pitch. I query the pathway the FA and Howard Webb have taken in their punishment of Balotelli, and ask has their conclusion been a fair and untainted judgement, or been based on the alleged accused? You can make your own minds up on this one folks but I shall leave you with this question. If Michael Owen or someone of such a placid manner had been in Balotelli’s situation, would the same outcome have been found?