FA will not review controversial Martial decision

Write to info@thefa.com.

All I've found so far is a statement in the Echo to the effect that "it is our understanding that the matter is not under consideration by FA".

Nothing on the official Everton web site either.

Therefore I posed the following question to them via the "submit a question" drop down box on their web site as follows:

"Would you please post an explanation/reasoning behind your decision not to ban Martial for diving to win a penalty in yesterday's game v Everton at Old Trafford?

It would be worth explaining in light of your recent decision to ban Everton's Niasse for a similar offence last season.

As you would expect, Everton fans are somewhat confused on what appears to be a double standard"

Thanks in advance,

I'll update you when I get an answer!!

"Please can you explain why you will not investigate the penalty given to Manchester United against Everton yesterday when it was clearly an obvious "dive"?

Do you want to improve standards?

I would expect a response."

Jagielka got a straight red against Wolves which was no different to what Cech did the following week and Young this week. To beat the Sky Six, you have to beat the team, the manager (Klopp & Mourinho antics) and the ref.

Why blame the ref if he was kidded by a professional? Especially if they are supposed to have a system that can go and ban the cheating player after the event?

I honestly think football courts controversy, especially the Premier League, because of the way the top league is marketed not just in this country but also around the world. Keep them talking, keep football in the news, and just accept cheating as part of the culture.

Look at Liverpool fans who defended the cheating Suarez to the hilt but still had foam coming out of their mouths a week after Calvert-Lewin was awarded a penalty because Lovren stupidly threw him to the floor.

I'm just using them as an example but until football gets tough and starts banning the cheats then things are only going to get worse. Whoever decided to change the laws and do away with indirect free-kicks inside the box really did football a major disservice, unless of course you happen to be a cheat!

I could go round in circles and say it would be stupid not to cheat because everybody else does, which is exactly what footballers are actually being encouraged to do whilst nothing at all is getting done about it. Ashley Young was quietly trying to get Gana sent off yesterday which shows how “snide” a sport football has become.

Subject: Consistently inconsistent refereeing. Manchester United Vs Everton F.C

Message:
On Sunday 28th October 2018, Everton F.C played Manchester United at Old Trafford. On the 27th minute of play, Idrissa Gana Gueye, successfully challenged Anthony Martial in Everton's penalty area and legitimately won the ball without touching Martial. Martial then dived to the floor in what was a blatant dive, with his arms theatrically thrown behind him.  The questionable John Moss then proceeded to give a penalty for this obvious dive.

I am of the understanding that the FA will not take retrospection action for the dive at hand! I am curious to know why.

The FA seems to be all talk about 'trying to rid the game of diving' or 'trying to deceive the officials', but then you do not investigate what is obvious cheating, diving and deceiving.

In the 2017-18 season, out of the hundreds of games that were played in the Premier League, only two players were retrospectively banned for diving, Oumar Niasse for Everton and Manuel Lanzini for West Ham United. Do only players who do not play for the top 6 only warrant investigation and punishment into dishonesty?

How are you meant to eliminate this type of behaviour, if players and clubs know that, more than likely, there will be no repercussion for diving, cheating and deceiving?

I look forward to your reply on this matter.

Many thanks,

Nick Lacey

Jagielka's red card v Wolves and Niasse getting a ban last season, the Clattenburg derby... it goes back years. The Club needs to make a statement about yesterday, the Manager is correct.

A ban just weakens the Man Utd team against opponents we are in competition with.

With myopic reporting like this, you will never see the FA getting pinned down to make a call in circumstances like this. It's easy picking on Niasse against Palace. If it happened against Man Utd, we'd get questions raised in Parliament. Roll on VAR!

The big difference between the Zaha and the Martial incidents is that Seamus made no contact with the ball, whereas Gueye absolutely did. Zaha got another one yesterday, I see, although it was stonewall in that case.

Surely EFC will lodge an official complaint against the referee, as he had another stinker the week before and gave Man City 2 goals, rotten decisions with the same level of incompetence, vs Burnley.

As usual, EFC got the short straw. As a referee, he should be demoted down a league. I recall about 10 years ago, when Uriah Reny was causing chaos in the Premier League, he got demoted.

This level of incompetence is cheating the paying public.

It wasn't just the penalty that was wrong. Ashley Young got away with a disgraceful challenge on top of the above. Sooner VAR comes in the better. Sick of decisions being bottled at the top 6.

I can see where you're coming from. However, although Moss got the Gana penalty wrong, believing that it was a foul, in his own mind he should also have given Gana a second yellow?

Kieran Richardson (ex Man Utd player) was also on. He said the fear of playing Utd had left.

However, I say the fear of the Ref giving Man Utd a bad call is still there

Gana yesterday shouldn't've gone in like that with his leg dangling around in the wind. In that situation at Old Trafford, there's only going to be one outcome. Better stand up than risking a certain penalty.

Baines did the same at Bournemouth a few months back when the Bournemouth player was going nowhere. That daft tackle cost us a win there.

Until our players learn not to be dickheads and give the referee his big chance to do us over, then it's on the players for me. As soon as I saw Gana's tackle on Martial in the box, I just knew what was coming... We make it so easy for these cheating bastard referees and it needs to stop.

Now, what I want to know is not if they will review a case of blatant diving to deceive the official. If they decide to NOT review a case (even non-Evertonians) in this case, think is wrong, then WHY? They should be able to tell WHY they will not review a call, even when pundits and even that Clattenburg says it was a dive and a deception!

All we fans keep thinking of is phone calls to the FA etc, don't rock the boat, nudge nudge wink wink...

Sadly!

Twice that clause was used against minnows, plenty more times it was called vs the "big" clubs... The FA see no bad, hear no bad, smell no bad... There was a Roman Emperor who claimed that money did not smell bad, even if that was taxes from very smelly places...

Can you organise a petition to be posted on these pages and sent to the FA.

Invited to ‘email in', I expect the objection to be slight and futile; however, if coordinated, it might make the blazer-wearing old boys, who run the ultimate old boys network, think again about testing their powers on ‘little' Everton.

If referees are biased towards the 'top 6', then surely the way to ensure we get the treatment we want is to be consistently nearer the top, and qualifying for the Champions League season after season. We lose consistently against the 'top-6' simply because we're not as good as them. We're nearly as good, but not as good, and that includes not being mentally as tough as them.

Hopefully we're getting there, and when we do we'll likely complain less about refereeing decisions, simply because we'll win more games.

We live in hope though, if Marco can build a team to take on the favoured few, it will be all the sweeter.

“I'm not awaiting a reply! I'm just a fan of football, not worth your bother. It's not like my opinion matters, I mean, I've never played for a ‘Top 6' club, and I have more than two brain cells...”

And I believe that's the crux of it...the shitheads in the studio, making a huge fuss about a dive (or their perception of a dive) is what puts pressure on the FA... we, as fans, are fuck all to them.

I thought Silva should've taken Gana off at half-time. He was walking a tightrope, and I didn't think it was worth a risk when Davies could've come on. Moss gave it for a foul, which from his angle he got wrong. Gana perhaps got away with it, but it certainly wasn't the same force of challenge as Smalling – and wouldn't warrant a yellow card elsewhere on the pitch. Totting up maybe, but not a challenge on its own IMO.

https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2018/10/28/18035148/marco-silva-reaction-comments-referee-jon-moss-martial-dive-penalty-manchester-united-everton-recap

Although are they the correct body in respect of referees? Isn't it the Premier League?

Either way it was a shocking decision to give a penalty and worse that it's not being investigated as a dive.

So irritating. There's no justice.

And the lack of a 2nd yellow for Smalling but no sanctions for John Moss. It's a cartel – a damn fix. Complete injustice

A request for the assessment committee to be impartial and no links to previous clubs, unlike the media which is overrun by ex big 6 players.

People complained about VAR but really, for consistency throughout the game this must be used more and adding to that, the VAR ref should also be assessed afterwards to explain his decisions. I know some people believe this slows the game down and will ruin the game which we all loved but there is too much money in the game these days and it has become farcical some of the decisions and their consistency.

Broadcasts from Trump (deffo a kopite) in the Oval Office... My fellow Americans, blah blah.. .A day that will live in infamy blah blah... ask not what your Referee can do for you blah blah... YNWA... fades out.

Ever since the days of Shankly and that gobshite Emelyn Hughes, the club have just stayed silent and laughed it all off and ignored bad press. Maybe if we'd stood up for ourselves all through the years we wouldn't be such a walk over.

Is conceding a penalty an automatic booking?

'Dear FA.

How is it that an EVERTON player promptly receives sanction for a so-called 'dive' - 'deceiving the referee' - in a previous match, but a Manchester United player versus that same EVERTON team is not even investistigated under the same 'standard'???

Could it just possibly be - as is actually evident throughout the domestic game, to all fans and those connected with teams clearly deemed 'lesser' by your hypocrital selves!! - that ONCE AGAIN this is a case of FU by the FA, another arbitrarily applied blind-eye in regards to favouring absolutely the 'big clubs' over the 'other' clubs and fans whom you evidently have nothing but contempt for???

Thanks again.. for NOTHING (again).

Another disgruntled *EVERTON supporter,

*A fan you you don't give a s*t about who is passionate about a team you don't give a s*t about (other than as an unfortunate part - to your way of thinking - of a 'package' to sell to the world for ridiculous sums of cash!!!).'

Fuck em (Though, sadly, we pretty much KNOW that that's the sentiment which will be coming right back.. and quick-sharp!!!)...

Only the fans can reclaim the game because it's gone 180 degrees in this country, the way the games are now being officiated.

I was watching a bit of Liverpool in Europe in the pub last week and one foul their new Brazilian player made never even got him a yellow card but the panel on MotD might have been saying it was a red?

Let's just go the game, enjoy the game, and stop giving the circus it has become so much air time, and we might just get our game back. Fuck the pundits and the panels because they rarely tell us anything new anyway!

They [The FA] can THINK I'm, we're, bitter. I'm, we're, supposed to be concerned about that? You going to be embarrassed for us all, now??? FFS.

Problem is the FA defend the status quo not injustice per the laws of the game.

Regarding the dive – we see this from virtually every player (we are not exempt) very week and the gamesmanship in football has now reached a point, like feigning injury and hurt to get players booked, sent off etc, that it is a huge task to eradicate. Cheating is simply the norm these days, such are the rewards.

I personally think Niasse's theatrics were more punishable than Martial's although that does not warrant Martial to be excluded from, at least, a closer look. Maybe that has happened. I don't know.

More saliently, the refereeing standard should be investigated because of the number of bad decisions particularly attributable to J Moss Esq. Many fans from different clubs across the country would agree with that. Surely it is time this particular ref was put out to pasture to make way for someone better equipped to keep up with the game.

And I agree with Jason – no amount of bleating, however much better it makes you feel, will make the slightest difference. Time to move on to the next game and hope for something to go our way.

Dear Nick,

Thank you for your email.

The Football Association receives many e-mails and letters from supporters of clubs complaining about what they see as favourable or unfavourable treatment. Football is a game of opinions, but our concern is to be even-handed across the board. 

The FA is responsible for overseeing the domestic game's regulatory function and ensuring it is fair for all participants. The FA does this without any bias to player, manager or club.

A Customer Relations Team was set up within The FA as a point of contact for all issues from the general public.  Our role is to collate and communicate the feedback we receive from the general public and forward it to the relevant areas of the organisation, in the process giving fans an open, accountable and responsive Football Association. 

Thank you for taking the time to write.  Whilst I appreciate this may not alleviate your concerns I trust this clarifies our position on this issue.

Kind regards

Customer Engagement Team

Maybe, based on the response you have received you could highlight their line :

"The FA does this without any bias to player, manager or club." Then you could ask the question as to why the panel of ex-players reviewing these consist of the following:

Nigel Adkins - Liverpool fan
Rachel Brown Finnis - Ex Liverpool
Terry Butcher - Ipswich
Lee Dixon - Man City as a child and Arsenal
Danny Murphy - Liverpool
Alex Mcleish - Aberdeen
Chris Powell - Palace?
Trevor Sinclair - Man City

That's 3 ex-players with affiliations towards Liverpool from the list of 8. Fair? Balanced? Proportionate? Two also with Man City links (Lee Dixon was a City fan as a kid – also hates Everton)

Look, I know it's hard to get it completely fair for everyone, impossible even but surely surely surely if it is seen as a "controversial decision" by so-called pundits, fans etc then, it simply has to go to the review panel for them to make the decision and not a decision by the FA on whether it's actually going to be reviewed as that is ridiculous!!

Maybe, and it's just a thought, but the panel who reviews should be a selected 5 managers from the division below, ie, The Championship. Now these 5 are chosen completely at random and they are asked to decide. If say 5 of the panel all agree then it's a 2 match ban as it is now. If there's 3 or 4 who agree it's a dive, then a 1 match ban or something similar?

Of course there will be no response but venting sometimes is needed and my disappointment is our players, Manger and Club just bending over and taking it up the sphincter time after time.

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My question is do you believe the lack of E.P.L. referees at the last World Cup is a symptom of the F.A.'s reluctance to educate referees when they get major decisions incorrect time after time. A recent example was the blatant dive by Martial which was highlighted by all the TV pundits and former referees as a dive. OK Moss got the decision wrong, it happens (maybe too many times for this particular referee) but what is unforgivable as custodians of the great game is the F.A. not referring such deception/cheating to a review panel. I would be interested to know how many of the so called "Big 6" actually have had any such reviews. I realise we are in an age when money is king and the F.A. does not wish to rock any of its "rain makers" but actually your main focus is to uphold and promote the transparency and values of the game without fear or favour. It is apparent by your lack of action in reviewing Martial's dive retrospectively that you do not take this responsibility seriously. That is your decision and shame on you for that but eventually your lack of action will come back to bite you when World Leagues are promoted and the fan on the terrace will say "don't fight for the F.A. because they are not interested in the game just the corporate perks" Reap what you sow.

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"A three-person panel, consisting of an ex-referee, an ex-player and a former manager, reviewed footage of the incident this morning and they could not come to a unanimous decision on the case.

FA rules state there must be a clear and overwhelming evidence to suggest a match official has been deceived by an act of simulation for a player to be given a retrospective ban."

With all the money floating around, how much would it take for one brown envelope. Even if Moss thought it was a penalty, and he did, surely the two arms out, two legs out simulation should be a yellow.

There was a very bad studs-in-Achilles 'tackle' on Sterling in last night's match that was missed. I thought there was a committee looking at stuff missed by referees?

We all have seen tight calls that can be interpreted whichever way you want to slant it but there is no way that Niasse's dive is worthy of a review and Martial's not, not to any reasonable viewer anyway.

Gana played the ball, it's 100%, and then Martial left his trailing leg (as is common for this type of dive) and then with a clear contortion dived forward and to the ground.

It is indisputable to anyone without a hidden agenda.

Roll on VAR, I would rather take the pros and cons of VAR than the biased system in place now.

Chris Powell is the current Southend manager & a Charlton legend, so linking him to Palace is akin to linking the Holy Trinity to the RS! However, aside from that, your point is well made.

The problem is, no-one in football is unbiased. For example, my hometown team is Newport County, the manager Mike Flynn is Newport born & bred but is also well known to be a very big RS fan.

But yeah of course everyone is biased to an extent and I am damn sure that even I would be in that position probably without realising it.

But my suggestion at the bottom supports a much fairer way of overseeing things and 5 managers with no agenda making a professional decision.

"Every incident is reviewed by a three-man committee who have to unanimously agree for any action to be taken."

There are only a finite amount of people prepared to be an official and put up with the antics of players who make the game harder to officiate. So the players do have take their fair share of the stick.

However the error I see most is proximity. Naturally if I make a decision from 30 meters away players will question it, often they are nearer and have a better angle. Make the same call from 10 metres the questions are markedly lessened.

I think if football wants to change the noise around officials they need a referee in each half. They will ultimately spend more time in the box and be closer to incidents.

Seismic? Yes, however just the clamour for a public flogging of both the officials and the FA is pointless and perhaps a lack of desire to see their point of view to where the issue lies.

Evolution is required but some greater understanding too.

One rule for the elite and another for the rest.

I very rarely agree with Neil Warnock but, some weeks back he was asked about VAR and his take was why would the big clubs vote for VAR when they seem to get all the 50/50 decisions go there way. So why bring in something that would diminish that advantage?

Most refs know if they make a mistake against one of the so-called Sky 6 the papers and Sky would be full of it for days. Where if that decision is against Everton or say Leicester they think who cares apart from Everton and Leicester fans and sadly that's true.

Just like the FA are to my knowledge still investigating Everton's role in the supposedly tapping up of Marco Silva. Yet Liverpool quite openly tapped up Van Dijk and nothing, they backed off for a few months then got him anyway. So where was the investigation into that???

This just goes on and on... like the rule that goalkeepers couldn't keep the ball for more than 6 seconds, the only one who fell foul to that was Neville Southall, I have never heard it mentioned since then; is it still a rule?

Isn’t it the biggest field of play in sport? Maybe Polo I guess, but biped wise surely the biggest?

Time to boot out the top six so we can have a proper, fairer League in place for future generations to enjoy good football, and where all teams in it have an equal chance of winning it.

The two-man system does, in fact, get you closer to the call – but the players actually respect it less.

BTW you are correct that Aussie Rules has the largest field at approximately 160m long x 130m wide. (Go Hawthorn!)

"Isn't it the biggest field of play in sport? Maybe Polo I guess, but biped wise surely the biggest?"

How about cheese-rolling – Cooper's Hill, Gloucestershire.
Link

That's the culture at grass roots level. Officials seen as punch bags for poor behavior and often poor coaching. They mimic what they've seen at the top level and expect to be able to do what they want; they and the public see officials as the excuse and less than the players on the field.

I know you probably know this and have been through it many times, it's getting to the point when officials will unionize and withdraw their labor.

After the match they commented that once again they had been witness to some first-class diving.

Tony Marsh has a valid point. Best to screen a player and wait for reinforcements than poke one's foot at the ball in such situations, giving the player an opportunity to dive and the referee an opportunity to give a penalty. Seamus Coleman did something similar against Palace.

It's been realized in recent decades that there really is very little accountability and that customers and the public will rarely do anything so long as they have a "Platform" or "Their say" to vent off. Moaning and discussion eventually damps out its own fire.

Hence we get whatever they feel it is their right to serve up at any given time. I also think the drama and controversy of contradicting actions and decisions is not lost on them either.

"After the match they commented that once again they had been witness to some first class diving."

Like it.

Only one - he gets away with "blue murder".

I'm afraid to say his intentions were correct but he simply wasn't mobile enough to get there to see a touch from Gana which significantly changed the direction of the ball. Gallagher is simply defending his brethren, the contact in this instance is incidental.

Tony is probably right, Gana on yellow but with Martial on his outside, there's no need for a challenge. But the genesis in that goal was from Walcott's poor control.

I'd rather people focus on those elements rather than make themselves feel better by berating the referee. Sure, a poor decision – please don't misunderstand me; however, some of the language and vitriol pointed at one man is very disappointing.

I've been a central defender for the last 25 years (of the 50 that I've been playing), and I have never slide-tackled in the penalty area. Not once. The risk versus the possible reward is just too high, even if the tackle is textbook. I'd rather just stay on my feet and make the guy beat me.

Regarding Gallagher's comments, yes, there is a point of view that getting a mere touch on the ball doesn't obviate a foul, and I made that call myself just this weekend – although Gana clearly got solid contact on the ball first. But no, there is no such call as not getting enough of a touch on the shot – any touch means a corner. Moss just missed it.

Well, FA, they will whether you are terrified of them or not. These teams will follow the money, no matter where it leads them. Expect games to be played abroad in the next 3 seasons.

Who were the 3 man panel?

How did they vote?

Will they publish a brief justification for their decision?

In the interests of consistency in future decisions, all the above needs to be fully documented and transparent for all to see.

In essence, I have asked who exactly decides whether or not to review and, as a supplementary question, challenged anyone there to at least try to convince me that I and many thousands of others are wrong in our belief that Sky Six teams benefit from favourable decisions at the expense of all others.

Having done this, I don't expect a response as I believe that nothing will be even considered unless and until Clubs like ours consistently and persistently challenge these injustices on a formal basis.

How many times by club has a referral been made to this panel and see who and which clubs have featured. A further request then made on what the decisions were. Would make interesting reading.

I remember playing a match and I made a comment to the ref after he missed a foul/handball or whatever. He took me completely by surprise by saying "You're not having a great game either, Frank". Gave me a whole new perspective on the referee's game and them wanting to do well and get all the decisions correct. Hopefully we will have the VAR soon to assist.

My take on the penalty is this: Gana got more than enough on the ball, but unfortunately it deflected off Martial's foot & so appeared to the ref to continue in the same forward direction. Throw in Martial's dive, Moss's inability to keep up with play & 60,000 Mancs screaming at him, he gave the inevitable but wrong decision. I don't like it but I understand why.

The FA's refusal to review the dive, simulation, deception, cheating – call it what you will – I cannot understand, even when (virtually) all the pundits and an ex Premier League ref is telling them it wasn't a penalty.

The Australian Cricket Association has recently held an inquiry into the ball tampering incident which led to three Test players being given lengthy suspensions and a lot of the blame has come down to the win at all costs attitude of that organization. Sounds very much like another organization which makes noises about cheating but only encourages it by their own actions or lack thereof.

As for emailing the FA, what have Everton done in this matter, pretty much what was done over a ten-year ban from European competition all those years ago.

Can anyone remember anything other than Moyes making noises over a particular referee he didn't want officiating Everton's games and how action against him was dropped in case it shed too much light on the subject?

And has anyone noticed any improvement in the standard of refereeing at any time, which they now meekly admit by introducing goal-line technology and VAR –mostly because similar systems have been used in other sports for sometime. It's highlighted by the number of English officials at the recent World Cup Finals.

Don't tell me these people aren't personal, when it's so obvious that they are. I've already stated Moss sending off the Watford player the other week, and if anyone can find the footage, my argument would be won when you fast-forward to Old Trafford last Sunday.

Interesting that you mention Australia and VAR in your post considering the shit-storm it is currently causing down-under.

There have been so many calamitous VAR decisions that most A-League fans would scrap it if offered the chance.

Last week we had an absolute ripper in the Melbourne derby (pronounced ‘Der-Be’ apparently). A Melbourne City player was felled on the edge of the box and the ref awarded a free-kick. The VAR panel then alert the ref that he might want to take a second look at the incident. So the ref runs over to have a look at the replay pitchside. At this point, it becomes apparent to everyone watching at home that there was no foul to speak of. There was no contact from the defender...BUT whatever did happen, happened inside the box. The longer the referee looked at the incident, the more inevitable it became that a ludicrous decision was forthcoming. Sure enough, a penalty is awarded.

So there you go. Even with the aid of irrefutable video evidence, these guys still make decisions that can only be attributed to incompetence or corruption. You choose.

Bringing in VAR will only help if we don't have the likes of Dermot Gallagher on the panel. Even after watching the Gana tackle several times his conclusion was, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that it was still a penalty. Who will the VAR panel consist of if the FA won't listen to the fans,pundits and believe the evidence of their own eyes in these matters.

I need some convincing that there is NO corruption in the FA, UEFA and FIFA.

And it's all down to money and greed.

Spot on, mate. The Premier League is a business model that no-one dare upset or de-rail. Untill EFC get a proper wealthy owner and or a new shiny stadium, we will not be considered one of the elite group.

Liverpool FC maintain there higher status within the media and within the football royalty due to their illustrious history and worldwide fan base. No body takes EFC seriously and who can blame them? You need look no further than this proposed stadium on the docks as an example of small-minded lack of ambition.

As for Dermot Gallagher, he is nothing more than a Yes man Muppet arse-licker. Dennis Wise and that Lady ex Footballer had Gallagher on toast. It's shamefully that the 2 footed challenge for our penalty wasn't even mentioned.

This is why VAR, will never be conclusive, until players who are found to be cheating, are really, really punished?

Dear Sir/Madam

I was extremely concerned to read that the FA will not be investigating Anthony Martial's deception of the referee to win a penalty in the 27th minute of the Man Utd v Everton game on Sunday 28th October 2018. The evidence on the replays clearly show that the Everton player, Idrissa Gana Gueye, legally tacked Martial with Martial subsequently throwing his arms up in the air to simulate a foul and then diving to the floor. It was a clear attempt to deceive the referee into giving a penalty - which referee Jon Moss then awarded. The pundits on Sky and BBC all agreed it was a dive, as did the in-studio referee.

Please explain to me why the FA has decided this does not warrant investigation. In the 2017-18 season Oumar Niasse received a retrospective ban for successful deception of the referee to win a penalty against Crystal Palace - despite the fact that the referee in that game stated he still believed it to be a legitimate penalty after seeing the replays later. What is the difference between that situation and the Martial simulation in the game on 28th October 2018? Surely, the whole point of these investigations and retrospective bans is to apply a consistent standard so as to try to eradicate this behaviour and promote fair play. The message that the FA gives by not investigating all such incidents is that it is one rule for some and a different rule for others.

I am a manager of a local U17s football team and I strongly condemn any simulation - that is the message I give to my players. I also demand that my players respect the referee at all times. The decision of the FA in the Martial case to not investigate undermines the efforts of managers to promote fair play and effectively endorses the act of simulation to deceive referees.

I would very much appreciate an explanatory reply so I can understand the rationale of the FA in this case and so that I can then pass this on to my players and, at the same time, allay my own concerns.

How many times have we seen Man Utd or the RS shown over and over again for issues that went against them but incidents involving them being the sinners are quickly dismissed or overlooked.

Alex Ferguson and Bill Shankly were both bullies who intimidated referees and the media to gain advantage for their clubs and to ensure that only favourable reporters or referees were involved in their games.

It is not just about corruption which I am sure goes on with the amount of money in the game but the blatant media bias and influence.

Personally, I think all fan groups should get together to organise a strong petition to the FA highlighting the bias shown to the so-called big six and Liverpool and Man Utd in particular.

Spot on mate. It was bad enough when it was just the RS getting away with it (last minute pens and disallowed goals etc). The it was Man Utd, especially with Fergie Time.

Now, since the Premier League, it's those usual suspects plus the so-called 'big' clubs. Media bias is ridiculous. For one thing, just how many Kopites or ex-RS are in the media?

Plus, I see Mourinho is not being done for foul language... bet our manager would have been!

The game has been bent for years. I much prefer following City of Liverpool FC (Up The Purps!).

I pretty much sent your response to the FA, but also included different names of the pundits and commentators who also stated that it was a dive.

I am yet to get a reply.

Also, it makes me wonder if an ex-Everton player pundit spat into a young girl supporter's face whether they would just get a slap on the wrist and be welcomed back? Or would they be got rid of?

To Whom it May Concern,

I was quite happy to see the laws come into place last season to ban those who go out of their way to deceive the referee into giving the wrong decision. I have literally fallen out of love with the game and only watch games involving my team nowadays. I used to watch several games a week, but I have been turned off by all the cheating, deception and gamesmanship. I believe the referee and his lines staff have a near impossible and unenviable job and that retroactive punishment was a massive step forward. To date only 2 players have been found guilty of willingly deceiving a match official; these 2 players I believe do not have a reputation as serial deceivers or as dishonest players. From watching my team week in/week out, I have seen blatant dives for penalties, feigned injuries and intimidation of refereeing staff become the norm. Nothing appears to have been done about these things. Even when pundits agree in unison, like with a penalty incident this weekend, the FA panel deem many incidents not to warrant further investigation. The reputation of the FA among true football fans really is something that you should note as some of the adjectives and superlatives with regards to perceived bias and much worse accusations, unfounded or not, do not make for good reading.

What many fans would like to see in consistency and even-handedness. Many have turned their back on the game, and although the premiership is enjoying unprecedented support from around the world, it only takes one other league to become as popular and those grass root supporters who have turned their back on the game might be difficult to bring back into the fold. It is worth thinking about as many football fans' allegiances are handed down from generation to generation. Break the chain and we are on unsteady ground.

And thanks Bobby. I am sure I am not the first and certainly won't be the last to express such sentiments to them. Will they listen! Not a chance!

What I do with my hammer now, or in the past is no one's business but mine!

No, I am not! Sorry!

Thanks Brian, but just telling the truth. I can't watch other games these days, especially as my other love is boxing and the integrity those guys show . well it shames football players, and often they are paid less for a much much bigger risk!

Brent Stephens - 121

Sorry to disappoint mate! Strange, not many Barry's on the planet, but a lot of them are Barry Williams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvulRNqISlM

But, Everton is my team!

Integrity is the word, but because players are taught to cheat, and when they do they are very rarely punished, then until all fans demand change, football will continue to have no integrity.

Our problem is that as a football club we are too nice and we just take our spanking like a good little club.

Just imagine the uproar if certain decisions that have gone against us went against one of the Sky favourites. I'm talking:

Graham Poll blowing his whilstle as Don Hutchison's goal was crossing the line in the last minute of a derby match. Would he have done that had it been Steven Gerrard's shot at the Kop End. Would be bollocks.

Somebody already mentioned the Clattenburg derby. In that game alone I seem to remember Dirk Kuyt litterally taking flight with a 2-footed challenge. Not even a yellow card. And then of course the blatant penalty at the end. Spin that one around and imagine it being done to the homeside at Anfield or Old Trafford.

I could go on but what's the point. We all know how it goes and until Everton start playing hardball with the pricks at the FA then nothing will change. Let's start talking about our manager and players refusing to do interviews, refusing to wear the premier league logo on our shirts, no access to the stadium for FA employees, and refusing to take part in the bullshit handshake shite at the start of the game.

Add to that a player getting flattened and just get up and get on with it, without rolling over 6 times.

Refereee respected without 6 players surrounding and foul language being thrown at them, end of the game all players shaking hands.

May be the poor mans alternate to football but Jesus we could learn a lot by taking a leaf out of their book.

The International FA Board (Ifab) advisory panels will also examine a raft of other potential measures, including altering the way penalties are taken.

A surprising proposal is expected to be put up for discussion which would mean that penalties are “one shot” – and that there will be no rebounds if the kick is saved or strikes the goal-frame and bounces back into play.

It would mean that goals such as the one scored by Paul Pogba for Manchester United against Everton in the Premier League last Sunday would be ruled out. In that match Pogba’s penalty was saved by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, but the midfielder scored from the rebound.

If such a change was made it would mean that the ball would be deemed “dead” once the keeper had blocked the penalty and a goal-kick would be awarded. It would be the same as in a shoot-out and would do away with the problem of players encroaching.(Telegraph)

Law Change Proposals

Hi,

Thank you for your email.

We can confirm that no further action will be taken against Anthony Martial.

The FA assess whether there is a clear and overwhelming case of successful deception of a match official before referring to the panel.

The Martial incident does not meet this high threshold.

Football is a game of opinions and we thank you for taking the time to write and share your opinions with us.

Kind regards

Customer Engagement Team

Eh? So is the panel then just supposed to agree with the FA?

All I did was quote that auto reply back to them and add "I won't let this drop".

A tip for others.

Regarding the news today about us being given a 2-year ban on signing academy players due to tapping up.

Now that we've got an e.mail address, I also suggest everyone contacts them to query why the RS got off Scott free tapping up Virgil Van Dijk, even though they admitted doing it.

Dear Rob

Thank you for your email and sorry for the delay in responding.

We can confirm that no further action will be taken against Anthony Martial.

The FA assess whether there is a clear and overwhelming case of successful deception of a match official before referring to the panel.

The Martial incident does not meet this high threshold.

Football is a game of opinions and we thank you for taking the time to write and share your opinions with us.

Kind regards

Customer Engagement Team