Subscribe to Mstars News!
Sign up for our weekly news updates by entering your email:
If you tuned in to this weekend's Barclays Premier League match between EPL standings leaders Chelsea FC and the possibly relegated Burnley FC, you witness some scary English football to say the least. While some might blame the referees for not calling a number of fouls against Burnley, there's really no denying that a second-half tackle from Ashley Barnes on Chelsea's Nemanja Matic could have easily been a career ending foul- even though it wasn't even called for a foul. Matic responded harshly, receiving a red card for his retaliation, but his club will try to appeal the charge. Meanwhile, despite video evidence of the "criminal tackle," as described by Jose Mourinho, Barnes has not received a punishment from the FA.
Check out more sports news coverage from MStars News right here!
Earlier in the season when Chelsea's Diego Costa received a 3-match ban for "stamping" on an opponent's foot, the media, namely Sky Sports referred to the EPL's leading goal scorer's actions as crimes. This week, appearing on the network, coach Mourinho asked how Barnes' tackle was viewed by the media.
"I would like to know how to you, Sky Sports, describe the actions of the Burnley player yesterday? My English is not good enough to find a word," Mourinho said this week. "When you think 'Diego crimes' after he puts his boot on a hand, when this is 'Diego crimes', the minimum you have to say is 'criminal tackle' (by Barnes). When Diego Costa has a three-match ban, probably three matches to Matic...tell me how many matches this player deserves?"
Though some viewers may agree with the manager, the Football Associating does not. Responding to the incident on Twitter (for some reason), the FA said that Barnes would not be penalized for almost ending a 26-year-old footballers career.
"In the vast majority of challenges for the ball, no retrospective action is taken as the incident has been seen by the match officials. Retrospective action introduced as deterrent for 'off the ball incidents' [e.g. kicks, stamps etc.] committed out of sight of officials," the Football Association tweeted. "Whole game in agreement that, in vast majority of cases, match officials are best-placed to deal with incidents to avoid re-refereeing. In line with this rationale, FA confirm no further action in relation to Ashley Barnes as incident was seen by the officials."
According to Goal.com and BBC Sports, Chelsea FC is looking to appeal a 3-match band that Matic is facing after his red card.
