Boxing Day. Unfortunately for these pages, a day named for boxes rather than on-field pugilists, but despite that fact we still have some disciplinary matters to round up…
First on the FA’s morning docket will be Wigan striker (and headline writer’s dream) Conor Sammon, after his red in the 5-0 drubbing from a United side with some notable absentees. His 39th minute clash with Michael Carrick – while the game was still 1-0 – resulted in a straight red and an immediate three-match ban for the Irishman (sto, SUN) followed by the FA Cup trip to Swindon. However, with reports surfacing of agreement between Martínez and Ferguson that the card was harsh and some suggestions that the Wigan manager has already stated his intention to appeal, this may not be the last we hear on this matter.
The other points of note from the games today were fourth yellow cards of the season for Newcastle’s Ivorian enforcer Cheick Tioté and recent Watchlist focus Robert Huth of Stoke. If either is now booked in their final games of the year – the Friday night clash at Liverpool for Tiote and the hosting of Wigan the following day for Huth – then they will incur the customary one-match ban. Avoid caution in that game and they will pass the 1st January deadline unpunished, after which the bar will be raised to 10 yellows before any censure.
GAMEWEEK 19 BANS
- Conor Sammon (Wigan) – 1 Red for serious foul play (First of 3 matches)
SUSPENSION TIGHTROPE – FOUR BOOKINGS
- Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
- Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa)
- Míchel Salgado (Blackburn)
- Nigel Reo-Coker (Bolton)
- Paul Robinson (Bolton)
- Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
- Raul Meireles (Chelsea)
- Ramires (Chelsea)
- Moussa Dembélé (Fulham)
- Brede Hangeland (Fulham)
- Danny Murphy (Fulham)
- Steve Sidwell (Fulham)
- Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle)
- Cheick Tioté (Newcastle)
- Robert Huth (Stoke)
- Glenn Whelan (Stoke)
- Scott Parker (Tottenham)
- Steven Reid (West Brom)
- Paul Scharner (West Brom)
- Richard Stearman (Wolves)
