Eight-match ban for Thatcher

THE Football Association have hit Ben Thatcher with a massive eight-game suspension for his vicious attack on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes at Eastlands last month.

The 30-year-old Manchester City defender was only booked at the time by referee Dermot Gallagher, who failed to spot the former Wales international smashing his forearm into Mendes’ face as the pair chased for possession during the second half of the goalless Barclays Premiership draw.

Aware of the severity of the incident, the FA circumnavigated their own rules to lodge a charge of “serious foul play” against Thatcher.

The FA have now delivered their punishment which is backdated to include the two matches Thatcher has served of a club-imposed suspension, meaning the player will miss six more games.

In addition, the FA have also given Thatcher a 15-game ban, which will be suspended for two years and will be triggered should the defender ever find himself in a similar situation again.

The suspension takes into account two matches Thatcher has already missed as a result of City’s own internal disciplinary enquiry.