FA charge Everton and Chelsea but Ivanovic gets off scot-free

As for no action against Ivanovic....just desperate stuff. Mac gets a yellow and Ivanovic not even that.

Insult to injury to Everton, the best behaved bunch of honest nice boys in the league get charged with the dark arts masters.

ItÂ’s time this management, players and club grew up and started playing big boy rules. No one gives a flying one about poor, hard done to Everton.

Well mannered, uncontroversial manager 0 points.

Which do you prefer?

They chose the image, so what does that say about complete hypocrisy?

I donÂ’t want to believe that corruption is at the heart of this, but it really feels like thatÂ’s the case...and it makes me question whether I want to bother with footy anymore, especially when Everton seem to be on the end of more shitty decisions and injustices than just about anyone else.

In an effort to avoid responsibility the FA charge both clubs. The more money in the game the more this will happen. ItÂ’s time we grew up and started being Â’professionalÂ’ itÂ’s what they seem to want.

Kowtowing to the 'elite' and fuck the rest - and we 'Everton' will sit
back and let them walk all over us.

It makes me sick and but for the fact that I am an 'Evertonian' first and foremost I would not bother with any of them.

Fuck 'em all!!

How many times this season have the opposition had a player charged retrospectively against us?

Basically I guess all players now know that you can grab an opposing player by the throat,put him in a headlock and stick your head into his head right in front of the referee who will do nothing!
You couldn't make this up.

This is another example of a decision which leads me to question whether they are being manipulated themselves by the mega rich clubs.

The most corrupt sport in the world.

Why was a panel needed in the first place. Can't believe the ref didn't see it. He seems to have a good view.

It has been a long time since I have been this wound up about such matters.

If these teams fail then, in their opinion, their brand fails and if their brand fails....... It's all about money to them and if that means turning a blind eye to cheating, gross misconduct, biased refereeing etc.....then so be it.

Commentators, pundits, journalists, sports presenters etc...are all part and parcel of this private club and they are their to ensure the status quo remains. Justice? Fair play? Equal rights? Respect? Forget it. This is a mafia, mob rule, oligarchy, plutocracy call it what you want it's a fucking disgrace but it's what we've got.

What does rile me is tin-pot clubs like Chelsea and Man City being regarded as "big teams" on account of the fact that they have dropped the fucking lottery, and reaping the benefits from an obsequious media and cowed officials. (This morning's Daily Mirror referred to Willian's goal as "sensational", "stunning", etc. There was no mention of a deflection and no mention of Ivanovic.) Now that really rings my fucking bell.

'Elite' officials. Do me a favour. Refereeing this season has been atrocious and probably the worst I've ever seen. Mike Riley is an absolute joke and it's incredible that he is still in a job after presiding over the worst decline in refereeing ever in the Premier League.

The media are up Mourinho's backside and are in awe of this puppet master making them dance to his childish rhetoric. The FA have massively shit themselves over this 'campaign' rubbish he's been spouting and have done this.

Spineless decision by a group of useless dinosaurs who have no right to run our game whatsoever.

Jon Moss, regardless of his fuck ups last night has got to be one of the very worst. But hey, what can we expect when their boss is 'Old Mother Riley' another useless prick when he was officiating.

Football is too big a business these days and the decisions, or should that be 'non decisions' made by these SKY 5 loving homers and bottle merchants can cost clubs dearly come the seasons end. I by the way, don't believe it all evens itself out.

Like it or lump it, the end result was never in doubt. Weak willed officials, weak-willed governing body - it's a farce. Has been for some time an will continue to be as long as there is mega $$$ at stake.

One day we might have a manager who thinks there is more to a post-match press conference than telling every how awesome they are.

Gloves off now, blue boys, for fucks sake.

You are totally right. Terry, Gerrard, Flamini, Fabregas (what a twat he is) - they are all constantly in the refs' faces, all game in every game. It is psychological warfare and we are shit at it.

Oh for the days when Reid, Gray, van den Hauwe, Ratcliffe took no shit off anyone. Mind you, Sharp was a right moaning twat.

1. If the FA charge Invanovic, that is akin to saying the ref was inept
2. If they say the ref was inept, that is akin to saying the FA fielded an inept ref
3. If the FA start criticising refs, then they cannot fine managers for doing the same
4. If the FA field rubbish refs, then they are rubbish, and all of that money they receive is not worth it

As well as all of this, this type of controversy is what keeps football in the newspapers, which keeps it in the public eye, which raises its profile - and on and on.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it" - well, likewise the FA, they will never remove this sort of thing from the game for as long as it profits them for it to remain.

I for one cannot be bothered with it anymore

And since when has "a trip" on the halfway line right by the touchline, been a bookable offence? Once the melee had started, I couldn't see the Ivanovic/McCarthy incident. Having seen pictures later on though, Jon Moss is about 2 feet away looking at the Boston strangler choking McCarthy to death, and claims he never saw it!! It beggars belief, it really does, the mighty shall not be punished, no matter what!

I was more pissed off at our naive nicey-nicey attitude than I was with the loss. If McCarthy had hit the deck holding his throat when Ivanovich grabbed him, we could well have seen 2 reds and got a point, or more.

All the clubs that win things have the same win-at-all-costs mentality. As long as we continue to be fools who show respect to refs, don’t dive or cheat we will be playing effectively a man down. For all the good things Moyes did, this was one of the things I hate most about his legacy.

The governing body will do fuck all about it. I heard Scudamore talking on the radio about the "show" a few days ago. It’s not been sport for a long time, they want talking points and they want the usual suspects to win by any means possible so the media have their heroes to fawn over.

The last bloody thing that I want to see is our lads diving like bloody faeries or mobbing referees or faking injury.

The most detestable creature that I've ever seen was that vile cheat suarez............god forbid any Everton player ever resorted to those hystrionics. Yes, I really would rather lose than win by cheating.

That doesn't mean that we as a club should meekly accept that we get shafted by these (predominantly foreign) cheating bastards. Everton really should make a fucking noise about this, and not just RM but the whole bloody lot. Not once but repeatedly, and if that means that we get censured, then we get censured, but we don't stop. Furthermore, we shouldn't do it only when we get the shit end, but when others do too........because we'll gain in the long run.

I can't recall the whole incident when Barry made the foul but what I did see almost all of the aggression was started by Chelsea players and Stones and Coleman were trying to calm Chelsea players down, McCarthy took unbelievable aggression from Ivanovic without having a go back which would have been very understandable.

We, as a club, should hire a top barrister and make an issue of this affair and highlight the total bias and unfairness of these absurd charges and also show, with TV views of this whole affair.

If I had the choice last night between them fuckers ensuring Barry sent off and then scoring a last minute goal and winning the match or KM making the most of the slightest of contact and going down like he’d been shot and getting us a penalty in the 89th minute that was converted to give us the points.

I know what I’d go for every single time and I wouldn’t lose a second of sleep over it either. Both Moyes and Martinez have sent DVD’s of referee fuck ups to the head honcho and may as well have sent their wedding videos for all the difference it has made.

Oh btw, where was captain bootlaces while this was going on. Having a laugh with a Chelsea tramp player probably.

ALL football fans in this country know that it's going on week in and out and it's the same fucking clubs benefitting week in and out.

If Everton were to back up say Palace or Swansea in their next games, then I'd be fucking proud of the stance being taken to end the double standards......you can only tolerate corruption for so long, then you either join in, or stand up and be counted.

I know which path I want Everton Football Club to take.

Two things about last night – the ref was a disgrace and the incompetent twat needs to consider retirement.

We are too nice and one of the main reasons is because of our captain Jags; I've nothing against the lad and he's been a top pro for years, but he's not captain material.

Gerrard has been doing it since he started playing and now he is on the way out Henderson is taking up the role, he started the kick off on Saturday when it had nothing to do with him running over 20 yards to get involved.

As many have stated the game stinks but until a club or better still a few clubs get together and start challenging these ridiculous FA charges the whole game will just not be worth watching.

If I had my way I would issue a directive that any crowding of the ref or dissent equals a straight red card! If games end up 6v6 for a week or so then so be it they'd soon stop it! Only the captain to speak to the ref- it works in rugby! These idiots are roel models earning more in a day than a doctor does in a year!

God I hate football at the moment! Do I admire Everton for having some morals - yes I do!

Remember our greatest night ? When the Bayern Management were screaming the house down because we were kicking ass all over the pitch HK leaned across and made the most profound statement in our history. . . ."FUCK YOU" he said.

Winners just think differently, that all.

When we cheat and cheat with the sole aim of winning the game then that would be it for me. I might be in the minority but I know I would be right, and as Pope John Paul said "the majority is not always right".

Now he was a winner.

Second, I want to see more EFC players like Macca, telling the ref what he thinks. We know Chelsea try to referee games, so let's meet it head on and deal with it. The good sides know how to mix it and play it hard when they need to. This team needs to man up....and so do we.

But we cant have it both ways; if we won't dance with the devil, we cant complain when those who will, walk off with all the silverware. IMO, it really is a case of either or...

The games been rotten since it took the Murdoch shilling, we none of us can be shocked by last night . . .or todays ruling

Why on earth would any Evertonian care what Chelsea "fans" think?

As has been said upon TW for other reasons, Evertonians are far too tolerant. That our players behave with style and dignity is absolutely correct. That our club allows blatant manipulation is not. We are not alone in repeatedly being handed the shitty end, patted upon the head and being openly told "Chin up, it's all for the best. We ALL need the money that the 'Pretty Boys' bring in, now don't we?"

When the truth is this, the "Plucky Clubs" create the real fucking interest in the EPL. Because despite the blatant favouritism, ANY club in the EPL can beat any club in the EPL.

Yet, how much better could it all be if the bullshit was dropped for a decade?

TV executives work on very short term contracts, and so are just "Viewer Grabbers" in their approach. They know fuckall about the game, so they play simplistic percentages.

Hence the "beloved" Michael Owen delivering his deeply insightful and fascinating observations of "the beautiful game". Sweet baby Judas if ever anyone was living proof that playing at the highest level and playing for LFC are the "anti-qualifications" for presenting EPL football then it's Michael Elizabeth Owen.

That doesn't mean I don't understand fans who want to, it's just not for me.

The FA are spineless. Their tolerance of Fifa corruption sums them up. Spineless and self serving.

A man grabs another man around both arms rendering him completely defenseless. The he grabs him around the neck.

Hell that's assault.

I said on another thread and I'll say it again – I'd not blame any player for defending himself if that happened. A man, when confronted with a violent act, has every right in the world to retaliate. If I were McCarthy I'd take matters into my own hands next time, no matter the consequences. You can't sit idly by while another man chokes you.

Soccer is completely fucked up in this regard. It really is.

Not one board member, first team player or manager actually believe we should be going to Chelsea and playing them at their own game. Liverpool or Man Utd, no matter how poor, always believe they are on a par with anyone in this division.

We fucking missed the boat 20-odd years ago... but do you know what's the most galling part of all that? A few years before the creation of 'The Sky League' we were actually Champions. Our then esteemed chairman, Philip Carter, was one of the founders and drivers of this whole shebang. We never had a fucking clue. He's still on our board by the way. The man who missed the chance he actually created. You couldn't make it up.

We should be on a par with all the big clubs. Accrington Stanley have more executive boxes than Everton. Sickening.

But don't let that ditract from another loss. Relegation Roberto is still on target to deliver disaster to our club.

My concern is that if they loose an appeal the fine will increase and instead of backing the club BK will not appeal

We lost our nerve last year when we got close to breaking the top 4. It is still not too late for a side to confound the Sky favourites monopoly but any such side has to believe it can be done, really believe it. It's that mental block which needs to be got over just as much as the financial deficit and the bias of officials.

It really sickens me to see what the game has become. Back in the golden age of football, there would not have been any whining to the ref if a player pulled a stunt like yesterday – the bastard would have been running for his life!

Marketing, money, egos, media, etc... have completely bastardized the game. There is no honour, sportsmanship, or camaraderie amongst players. The game is rife with self-inflated, egotistical mercenaries whoring themselves out to the highest paying pimp.

Having said that, if the FA really had any desire to clean up the game's image, first thing would be to put a clamp on every player's mouth during a match (like in rugby) when it comes to interacting with officials. At least that should cut down on the amount of player intimidation that is happening on the pitch. Start carding the turds throwing up their arms simulating a card (same for the turd throwing himself down on the pitch looking for a card) whenever there is any contact. Last I checked, there was contact in this game. But most importantly, hire and train competent refs!!! FFS John Moss isn't even fit to officiate a match involving 10 year olds!

But will the FA do anything? Not a chance. The team's that would be impacted (i.e., suffer the most) from such changes are the same one's that bankroll the FA.

Allow the apathy to wash over you.

...wonder what sort of reception I'll get?!

...what sort of reception would I get, if I did it in Serbia!!

I know Roberto as did Moyes is supposedly on a learning curve yet I wonder how effing long it will take before he/they recognize that certain refs have a weakness of character that opponents use as part of their game plan.

Now the managers of the richest clubs are crying (if you mention a decision we don't like were off). No wonder the Spanish League is tits up,we are next.

Thanks, Bob Mortimer.

I said before the season started that the entire club from management to players are too nice, soft and naive. This is high level, high stakes professional sports but we're stuck in a time warp.

I just watched Football Today in Canada and Phil Neville said the first thing he said when he arrived at Everton was to get around the referee and pressure them. No one was doing anything, the opposite of the winners at Man Utd.

Our approach has to change and we have to scream about this, from Kenwright down. The biggest lie ever, is that these things even out over the season. Do they fuck!

I don't blame the refs because let's face it, anyone of us thrown out into the bear-pit of a PL game would be just as terrified and pander to the home crowd and home team. The only thing that will change this is a strict policy to book any form of dissent, and defending refs for doing just that. They aren't ''spineless'', they're just normal people.

Okay, the Chelsea players surrounded the ref to get Barry sent off, which was embarrassing but nothing to be FA charged about, and no Everton player did anything as far as I could see. So both teams were charged because Ivanovic kicked off?

Barry got booked again which was probably fair enough but what was McCarthy booked for? Being strangled? In that case Stones should have got a yellow as well.

Football has been my passion for years and now for the first time IÂ’m thinking of knocking it on the head after shit like this.

ItÂ’s a joke these days and I canÂ’t see it getting any better.

"I hope City win the League"

Is that the same City that had a "never in a month of Sundays" penalty awarded in their favour against us, the same City that should have had Mangala sent off for violent play and Fernando was lucky to not see red as well for a similar foul.

Doesn't seem to matter who we play out of the Sky favourites, we seldom get our just rewards.

We don't want them.

Thank you for contacting the Football Association.

Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic will not face any further action in relation to an incident involving Everton's James McCarthy in the 86th minute. In Premier League matches, if an incident has not been seen by the match officials, a three-man panel of former elite referees will be asked by The FA to review it and advise what, if any, action they believe the match referee should have taken had it been witnessed at the time.

For an FA charge to follow, all three panel members must agree it is a sending-off offence. In this instance, the panel did not believe the conduct was worthy of a dismissal.

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

Wonder who the panel was? (Three ex-Chelsea players perhaps?)