No Punishment For Yaya Toure Over Juan Mata Incidents

by Graham MacAree on Dec 15, 2011 8:31 PM GMT in Chelsea FC: Premier League

There will be no retroactive punishment for Manchester City's Yaya Toure following several odd incidents during his team's 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday. The Ivorian midfielder was caught on camera kicking Chelsea winger Juan Mata before cuffing him across the head, and he also attempted to stamp on Ramires's ankle in the second half (gifs after the jump), but referee Mark Clattenburg claimed that he saw the kick and chose to take no action, and the FA have no problem with the head-cuffing either.

Personally, can understand their decisions. Neither event warranted a sending off in my opinion, and taken in isolation they're not a big deal (especially the kick, which was delivered at roughly three miles an hour). However, given the sheer number of awkward incidents involving Toure during the match it is absolutely mind-blowing that he was never even booked, and I maintain that he probably should have joined Gael Clichy for an early bath. Add that to Vincent Kompany's 'no sir, I never blew up Juan Mata in blatant retaliation for him nutmegging me when I was already on a booking' routine, and it's a little bit funny that City fans are complaining so much about David Silva's penalty appeal getting turned down.

Ah well.

Toure vs. Mata

Toure vs. Ramires

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i have a big issue with the ramires one, he could have severely injured him and its a foul behind the player and not close to the ball at all

If rami would have dived or would have gotten severy hurt things would have been a lot different. Anyhow we beat them fair n square so take that maniacs.

Where is the meatloaf?

by Habana on Dec 15, 2011 8:39 PM GMT reply actions

That was shocking....

It made me fume the other night however the media seemed to have just focused on the Toure/Mata incidents. If Toure had connected with Ramires as he intended, that could have been a career threatening injury.

by sdb123 on Dec 15, 2011 8:53 PM GMT up reply actions

Sky are saying

Now that avb said that Essien is back mid Jan. Essien wud bust Toure’s head for him if he tried that with him.

by Smac84 on Dec 15, 2011 8:49 PM GMT reply actions

The other ones I have no problem with. The kick was a "lovetap" more than anything and

the slap looked worse because Mata pushed it away, but to deliberately try and injure a fellow professional, especially Ramires who has done nothing to anyone, and he’s a goddamn scumbag in my eyes. There’s no defense for that.

by Valens on Dec 15, 2011 8:50 PM GMT reply actions

I think my biggest problem

was that Toure showed this childlike behavior throughout the night. I don’t know if he was frustrated with his own performance, because he wasn’t up to his best, but he was just pulling stupid stuff left and right, and it is just unsportsmanlike. I know that tempers flair on the pitch and mouthing off and stuff happens, but a consistent behavior with it is more than just a temporary oversight.

The issue I had with his stuff with Mata was more that it was overall demeaning to Mata, who hadn’t really done anything to warrant it. That just makes Toure look silly, picking on someone half his size like he is in grade school. And no, I don’t think he caught enough grief for his behavior. Maybe no FA punishment needed, but hey, others have gotten worse from them for lesser offenses.

And… I will still say that Silva appeared to be jumping over (in dramatic diving fashion) Bosingwa’s leg while he was pulling away prior to the actual contact, so I can’t say I’d have given the penalty if the other officials saw nothing.

by alynne4307 on Dec 15, 2011 9:11 PM GMT reply actions

Silva was already flying through the air by the time contact was made

Best solution: penalty awarded and a yellow to him for diving

Second best: take no action

by FootieFromAfar on Dec 15, 2011 9:22 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions

I really really wish they'd do option one more (or ever)

by Graham MacAree on Dec 15, 2011 9:24 PM GMT up reply actions

The announcers brain would explode at trying to comprehend it

Not to mention the pundits.

So it would be like a triple-win!

by DPeezy on Dec 15, 2011 9:26 PM GMT up reply actions

If Silva does not jump, it's a clear penalty

by DPeezy on Dec 15, 2011 9:24 PM GMT up reply actions

Don't like saying it

But in the modern game it’s penalty alright. You’re completely right in saying that if silva wasn’t theatrical about it then the ref points to the spot. He was his own worst enemy there.

by Smac84 on Dec 15, 2011 9:50 PM GMT reply actions

To be honest, I don't really have a problem with the Mata ones, though...

…they’re the sort of thing that, despite a lack of any real malice, earns a red in the modern game, as Drogba can attest.

The Ramires one is, to paraphrase Didier, “…a [fun]ing disgrace.” I’d personally like to see things like this, where one player actually intends to injure another, punished with huge bans. Not only does it make Toure a horrible person, but if he connected with his studs there, that’s one of City’s title rival’s best players gone for the season. The sad part is, he’d have had at most, what, a five game ban? Accidents are one thing, but in cases where there is clear intent, it’s borderline assault.

Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!

by Kevin Kostka on Dec 15, 2011 9:57 PM GMT reply actions