Chelsea's Essien Let Off
Yesterday Rob Styles (who refereed the Chelsea verses Bolton Wanderers match last Saturday) reviewed the foul committed by Michael Essien and admitted that he should have given a red card.
However, Essien will not be punished as FIFA has stepped in to prevent further action saying that Styles deemed that a yellow card was sufficient at the time. According to FIFA their decision is final and will not be changed.
A statement from the FA said, “The FA sought clarification from FIFA whether any additional disciplinary action could be taken.”
According to Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, said of Essien “he’s a fair player and a player with an incredible record on disciplinary issues. He is a very clean player.”
Doubtlessly Sam Allardyce will have a different opinion.
The Wanderers were leading 1-0 when Essien made his terrible tackle on Bolton’s Ben Tal Haim and only received a yellow card. Bolton boss Sam Allardyce explained why this particular decision was so important:
“We went down to 10 men with the score at 2-1, whereas Chelsea should have been 1-0 down and down to 10 men.”
“I could have been the first manager to beat Chelsea this season. It has been a major influence on the result.”
Perhaps FIFA saw that the a red card at that time in the game would have had an obvious effect on the match and that to punish now may have led to further appeals from the Bolton camp. At the end of the day the result can not be changed but perhaps Chelsea would have the inconvenience of loosing a player for a match or two (maybe three).
Perhaps something needs to be done to make sure that dangerous play it always punished even in retrospect on the evidence of video replays. A fifth official, with access to instant replays, as in cricket and rugby would disturb the game too much, but it would make it a fairer game.
