Video trial must be fair, says Venables
Manchester United skipper David Beckham and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry have both escaped such a prospect this week, although the latter was made to sweat by the FA over the last few days while it was decided whether to call in the video advisory panel.
Beckham was quickly informed his elbow on Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer in his side’s 1-0 defeat at Elland Road would not be reviewed as referee Jeff Winter awarded a free-kick, with no further action taken.
Henry’s elbow on Charlton’s John Robinson during the Gunners’ 3-0 win at The Valley was missed by official Steve Dunn, forcing the FA to take a look at the situation and consider whether the France international would be charged.
Similar incidents in the past, though, have been forwarded by the FA to the panel, and action taken against the relevant players concerned.
In a stance echoed by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, Venables reckons that clearcut guidelines need to be set as he said:
‘‘I’m a believer, like everybody else, in consistency. We’ve either got to do them, or do none of them.
‘‘If we have a video facility and we’re going to use it, then they have all got to be used or not at all. That way everyone - media, fans, players - will know where they stand.
‘‘At the moment it’s a toss of a coin and you think ‘well, I wonder what is going to happen now’. There’s just no consistency.’’
Venables also feels Winter did not abide by the letter of the law in deciding not to book Beckham for his challenge on Bowyer, again underlining another inconsistency.
‘‘I felt it was a foul, which he gave, but if he gives that then there might be something more he would have to give - certainly a yellow card,’’ added Venables.
‘‘Bowyer seems to think it didn’t do the damage it could have done, but nevertheless we all know what the rules are.’’
Venables was speaking ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA Cup clash with Ukrainians Metalurg Zaporizhia, with the first leg of the first-round tie at Elland Road.
The team, currently under the caretaker guidance of goalkeeping coach Oleg Lutkov following their recent sacking of head coach Oleg Taran and assistant Sergey Bashkarov, is not expected to pose Leeds too many problems.
Zaporizhia, currently 15th of 18 in the Ukrainian Premier League and having scored a paltry six goals in their nine matches to date, were only awarded their debut in the competition after appealing to UEFA.
In finishing fifth, and with the two Ukrainian Cup finalists both above them in the league, UEFA agreed to their participation, with their reward a plum tie against Leeds following a 3-0 qualifying round victory over Maltese side Birkirkara.
Venables, though, is warning against complacency, particularly following such heady results against Newcastle and Manchester United last week.
‘‘Like all these teams, one of the things you must not do is underestimate them. We know that, but it’s one thing saying it and another doing it,’’ added Venables.
‘‘They are no fools because they finished fifth,” he said.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
