Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[tomd2103]

I've got no issues with the ban.  Any physical contact with an official in an aggressive manner is totally unacceptable and should be made an example of.

[paul_e]

I don't think it was that big a deqal and has been made out as far worse than it was.  However it's definitely a red card because making contact with the ref or assistant has to be a zero tolerance thing if they want to fix the relationship between players and the refs which has been fundamentally broken for years.  My issue is that I don't see how it warranted a 50% increase on the ban that Akpom got for a comparable offence.

[AVH87]

I think it deserved more than the usual 3-game ban, it showed a complete lack of respect for the linesman and although some passion is good it was an OTT reaction from Bacuna. Don't think pointing out that the decision was wrong justifies the reaction. 4 or 5 games would be fair in my view, so I'd consider it slightly harsh but if that's the route they've gone down so be it. The guy who pushed the ref got off lightly only getting 1 game added to the usual ban, so there is a lack of consistency there though.

[paul_e]

If you're going to pick an example of removing doubt, don't use the high tackle rule change!!!  When a coach says its sheer luck whether you get sent off or not you know the rule's not exactly watertight - http://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/aviva-premiership/75731-75731.

If you didn't change rules because a bellend like Cockerill doesn't understand them nothing would ever change.  He was under pressure (and got sacked not long after) and was just spouting shit.  Some people got concerned that there'd be a huge increase in bookings because of it but it hasn't happened because that concern caused most teams to focus on tackling alittle lower as a core skill in training and the objective of the rule change was met with barely a ripple.  In all honesty there have probably been 2-3 yellows up to reds in total across the top leagues in Europe, that's as good a rule transition as you'll see and a bullshit interview from a wanker a few weeks before it was implemented isn't going to change my mind.

In case anyone's missed it, Cockerill is a complete twat who spent years talking about unfair treatment from refs every few weeks because they dared give penalties against cynical play from his team.

[SheffieldVillain]

The linesman seemingly gets no official sanctioning for his brain fart. We all make mistakes -but only the players should be punished? Is that the take home message?

Not at all no. There's a difference between a mistake and violence or intimidation towards someone. If Bacuna for example had failed to make a clearance or a tackle, that's a mistake in the same way as the linesman's decision was. Violent conduct isn't a mistake, it's an offence.

[Tugby Villain]

Unless you've ever been a referee, and I'm speaking purely in a football context and not everyday life, it is very difficult to understand how tedious it becomes being abused and insulted on a regular basis.  You're expected to stand there and take it and say nothing and then, when you do use the means at your disposal to take action you receive more abuse and total over-reaction.  I'm speaking as a very experienced ex-referee and one with a particularly thick skin so I could handle it, others couldn't/can't. 

There comes a time when enough is enough and it may just be the unfortunate player who, in the overall scheme of things has committed the most minor of infractions and becomes the straw that breaks the camel's back.  Without going over old ground, when it goes as far as having your windows put through by a disgruntled player something has to be done.  I know if a player had done to me what Bacuna did to that linesman, then his feet wouldn't have touched, metaphorically speaking.  Notwithstanding the incorrect decision made by said linesman.  We all make mistakes, the referee on Tuesday didn't fuck Kodija out of it for missing the penalty, and that could have had the same or similar outcome on the match as the Bacuna incident.  Bacuna deserves everything he has received.

I love the Villa as much as we all do but I like to think I'm fair-minded when incidents of this or similar nature occur.  Bacuna let himself, the club and us down on Tuesday and no amount of abuse towards the officials is going to change that.

As a young referee, I would feel let-down if the FA didn't use this to make a stand against abusing refs.

[Clampy]

I think an extra 3 games is a bit excessive.

[paul_e]

Unless you've ever been a referee, and I'm speaking purely in a football context and not everyday life, it is very difficult to understand how tedious it becomes being abused and insulted on a regular basis.  You're expected to stand there and take it and say nothing and then, when you do use the means at your disposal to take action you receive more abuse and total over-reaction.  I'm speaking as a very experienced ex-referee and one with a particularly thick skin so I could handle it, others couldn't/can't. 

There comes a time when enough is enough and it may just be the unfortunate player who, in the overall scheme of things has committed the most minor of infractions and becomes the straw that breaks the camel's back.  Without going over old ground, when it goes as far as having your windows put through by a disgruntled player something has to be done.  I know if a player had done to me what Bacuna did to that linesman, then his feet wouldn't have touched, metaphorically speaking.  Notwithstanding the incorrect decision made by said linesman.  We all make mistakes, the referee on Tuesday didn't fuck Kodija out of it for missing the penalty, and that could have had the same or similar outcome on the match as the Bacuna incident.  Bacuna deserves everything he has received.

I love the Villa as much as we all do but I like to think I'm fair-minded when incidents of this or similar nature occur.  Bacuna let himself, the club and us down on Tuesday and no amount of abuse towards the officials is going to change that.

As a young referee, I would feel let-down if the FA didn't use this to make a stand against abusing refs.

Why this one?  Why not the multitudes of incidents over the last few years?  Why as a Villa fan do you think that a Villa player getting a ban that's totally out of line with the standard punishment for this type of incident is the right time for the FA to take a stand?

[LeeB]

As soon as he did it I was surprised the ref didn't have the red out of his pocket but maybe he didn't see it. It was a moronic thing to do, heard on the radio this morning that there is a planned strike of amateur referees this weekend to highlight the verbal and physical abuse they are subjected to week in, week out. A six game ban is a decent message to send out.

My sentiments entirely

Hear hear. Sunday morning football is dying a death as there's hardly any refs left.

[peter w]

I too think 6 games is harsh but can't agree with the over reaction from Bacuna to a bad call from the linesman. That's all it was, a bad call and for something as irrelevant as a throw-in. Giving a penalty or a sending off and i can understand. but it was just a bad throw-in call. I understand tje context may have precipitated it, 1 point in 2017, bacuna not playing and starting for a long time, but all it was was a throw-in decision. Linesman and refs get those wrong all the time (not every decision but I mean in every game), the same as goal kicks and corners. Bacuna was probably angry, then playimg to the gallery, and his twattishness has probably cost him his Villa season, and I wouldn't mind betting, his Villa career.

[VILLA MOLE]

As soon as he did it I was surprised the ref didn't have the red out of his pocket but maybe he didn't see it. It was a moronic thing to do, heard on the radio this morning that there is a planned strike of amateur referees this weekend to highlight the verbal and physical abuse they are subjected to week in, week out. A six game ban is a decent message to send out.

My sentiments entirely

Hear hear. Sunday morning football is dying a death as there's hardly any refs left.

last week I went to see Stratford town and the stick the ref got from the benches was poor, it made me think why bother if I was him

[spangley1812]

I hope Bruce has fined him 6 weeks wages as he wont be any use to us for 6 weeks

[Villafirst]

I've got no issues with the ban.  Any physical contact with an official in an aggressive manner is totally unacceptable and should be made an example of.

I've got issues with the fact that Hope Akpan of Blackburn got a 4 game ban for PUSHING THE REF! How come Bacuna gets a 6 game ban for 'bumping' the linesman who made a pathetic decision with the throw-in?? Tell me where is the consistency??

[LeeB]

As soon as he did it I was surprised the ref didn't have the red out of his pocket but maybe he didn't see it. It was a moronic thing to do, heard on the radio this morning that there is a planned strike of amateur referees this weekend to highlight the verbal and physical abuse they are subjected to week in, week out. A six game ban is a decent message to send out.

My sentiments entirely

Hear hear. Sunday morning football is dying a death as there's hardly any refs left.

last week I went to see Stratford town and the stick the ref got from the benches was poor, it made me think why bother if I was him

It makes my piss boil, grown men shouting and screaming because they can't get their own way.

[tomd2103]

I've got no issues with the ban.  Any physical contact with an official in an aggressive manner is totally unacceptable and should be made an example of.

I've got issues with the fact that Hope Akpan of Blackburn got a 4 game ban for PUSHING THE REF! How come Bacuna gets a 6 game ban for 'bumping' the linesman who made a pathetic decision with the throw-in?? Tell me where is the consistency??

Well yes.  I wasn't aware of the Akpan incident and it sounds like he got off lightly if that is the case.  Agree there has to be some kind of consistency.