FA boss backs ref after Balotelli agent’s claim
Manchester City striker Balotelli chose not to appeal the charge triggering a four-match suspension and ruling him out of last night’s Carling Cup semi-final with Liverpool and the Premier League encounters with Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa.
City assistant manager David Platt yesterday said he felt Webb had seen the incident in real time and, therefore, Balotelli should not have been charged.
The player’s agent went far further though, accusing Webb of acting like a “coward” and alleging he changed his mind over the incident once Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has voiced his dismay in the aftermath of his side’s defeat, when Balotelli scored the dramatic match-winning penalty in stoppage time. Bernstein is sufficiently annoyed to issue a strong statement on behalf of the man who refereed the last World Cup final.
“Howard Webb is a fantastic referee and a great ambassador for the sport. His ability and integrity are beyond question,” Bernstein said.
“He has the utmost respect from within football in England and around the world. That could not have been demonstrated more clearly than in 2010, when he was chosen to referee the UEFA Champions League final and the Fifa World Cup final, and this summer he has been selected for Uefa Euro 2012.
“We all have a duty to respect our referees. To question their integrity or imply anything other than total impartiality is reckless and unfounded. “It harms the perception and treatment of referees at every level of football, and we must not allow that climate to exist.”
Platt had claimed incidents on the field of play often look far worse when they are slowed down. And Bernstein backed that theory, emphasising Webb only had one look at it.
“Referees have only one live opportunity to make a judgement call on those instances that they see in a fast-paced game,” he said.
“They do not have the benefit of numerous camera angles and replays. They make these decisions with honesty and integrity.”
But the comments of Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola really irritated Bernstein.
Raiola claimed the Italy striker was feeling persecuted at present and, while the severity of what Balotelli did should not be underestimated, it is easy to see why given team-mate Joleon Lescott and, in particular, Stoke forward Peter Crouch escaped without punishment for incidents that looked nasty.
City manager Roberto Mancini reluctantly left Balotelli out of last night’s Carling Cup semi-final after the club accepted his violent conduct charge.
The FA confirmed the outcome shortly after last night’s 6pm deadline to submit an appeal, and that meant Mancini was unable to call on one of his key men at Anfield.
“I do not agree with this decision, but we can do nothing,” Mancini said ahead of kick-off.
“I do not agree.”
“I explained to Mario and he understood.”
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