Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[Chris Jameson]

I have a lot of respect for anybody who decides to be a referee, even at junior level they get stick from coaches and parents which makes a mockery of the 'Respect' banners that are on display at each game. I got a mouthful of abuse from a coach reffing an under 8's match. His team were winning 5-0, it was last minute and I stopped the game because an opponent was hurt after a challenge, the team went on to score and he marched across the pitch as I was seeing a kid in tears was okay. It was the last time I allowed myself to be volunteered to ref, it was also the last time his team were invited to the tournament.

[Villafirst]

Can't Villa appeal this decision? Surely the Akpan 4 game ban sets some kind of precedent? You could argue what Akpan did was far worse than Bacuna's offence?

[PeterWithesShin]

I don't have a problem with a 6 game ban for it, the inconsistency of length of ban is a problem though. Akpan and Bacuna should have received the same punishment.

[LeeB]

I don't have a problem with a 6 game ban for it, the inconsistency of length of ban is a problem though. Akpan and Bacuna should have received the same punishment.

Correct.

[Chris Jameson]

I don't have a problem with a 6 game ban for it, the inconsistency of length of ban is a problem though. Akpan and Bacuna should have received the same punishment.

Correct.

That's it, haven't seen the other incident but Bacuna deserves the 6 game ban and by the sounds of it Akpan deserves similar.

[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

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

it was ridiculous there was a 50/50 in the air challenge and they both went up for,  then went down and then got up . You would have thought that one of them had shot the other with the coaches reaction   

[TopDeck113]

I'm not going to be all outraged because it's a Villa player and other players at other clubs have had lesser bans because, frankly, six games is lenient. Any player who lays a hand on a match official should be suspended for three months minimum.  This is the area where the F.A. can easily make examples of relatively high profile players for the benefit of the grassroots game.  As has been said, the the verbal and physical abuse meted out to officials in youth and Sunday League football is atrocious and the seeds for that abuse are sown with what those responsible witness every time they watch a match played by so-called professionals. 

[PeterWithesShin]

Ignore the robotic voice on the Bacuna one as it's the best vid I can find on youtube of it.

[dave shelley]

Who did the commentary on that? Suri?  It's almost worth the six match ban just to hear it.

[Villafirst]

I don't have a problem with a 6 game ban for it, the inconsistency of length of ban is a problem though. Akpan and Bacuna should have received the same punishment.

Correct.

That's it, haven't seen the other incident but Bacuna deserves the 6 game ban and by the sounds of it Akpan deserves similar.

Yes, but surely Bacuna should have a 4 game ban based on the precedent set by the Akpan ban? Consistency?? Explain that!

[Chris Jameson]

I can't explain it and don't know why you think I possibly could. Akpan got off lightly by the sounds of it, Bacuna deserves his 6 match ban and possibly got off lightly too. I've noticed the crowding round referees and screaming in their face seems to be making an appearance again, looks great.

[PeterWithe]

Agreed, a six game ban is fully deserved if only to send the message out that match officials at all levels should be treated with respect, what ever their level of competence. Sunday league is much the worse for the lack of refs, most of them put off for the abuse they gave to suffer. Shite like Bacuna pulled, if ignored, send a message that it's open season on officials. Glad the FA have stamped down on it.

Sorry. Top deck made the same point in a far more lucid manner, I missed it.

[adrenachrome]

Also, Bacuna has a Badger-like jaw line and a menacing haircut.

[Risso]

Perhaps Bacuna got more for swearing as well?

[PeterWithe]

I don't think they really care that much about swearing, Gary O'Neil of Bristol, if my rudimentary lip reading skills are up to much, screamed 'you fucking cheat' into the face of the Lino in the weekday match and he didn't bat an eyelid.