Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[Ad@m]

Shelvey got a shorter ban for racially abusing an opponent.

You can't compare them though.  The aggravating factor here was the involvement of the official.  Start on the slippery slope that it's fair game to physically assault (and yes, I know this wasn't quite assault but you get my point) the officials and you completely undermine the sport at every level.

If he'd chest bumped another player he could've felt hard done to to have even been booked.

[old man villa fan]

It's not referee's actual decisions or the FA's in this case that upset fans, it's the inconsistency of the decisions.

[Ad@m]

It's not referee's actual decisions or the FA's in this case that upset fans, it's the inconsistency of the decisions.

But how can you say this is inconsistent with the ban Shelvey got when they're incomparable?

[dave shelley]

I'm certainly not condoning what Bacuna did - he was stupid in the extreme and deserved his ban, but 6 games?  Where is the consistency if Akpan got an extra game ban and Bacuna got an extra 3 for basically the same thing?  Just shows how shite the FA are.

There is no consistency in football.  From administration to interpretation of the laws.  I believe it doesn't exist.  If there is any at all, it's the consistency that football continues to shoot itself in the foot.

[Chris Stares]

I'm certainly not condoning what Bacuna did - he was stupid in the extreme and deserved his ban, but 6 games?  Where is the consistency if Akpan got an extra game ban and Bacuna got an extra 3 for basically the same thing?  Just shows how shite the FA are.

There is no consistency in football.  From administration to interpretation of the laws.  I believe it doesn't exist.  If there is any at all, it's the consistency that football continues to shoot itself in the foot.

The FA probably completely forgot there was an almost identical incident not more than 3 weeks ago for which a 4 game ban was imposed and just pulled the 6 game ban for Bacuna out of their arses.  No wonder the government passed the "no confidence" motion on the FA (which is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black, but that's a whole other debate!)

[Herman]

Bacuna acted like a petulant prat and goodness knows what he thought he was going to gain by barging/rushing towards/shaping at the linesman (or whatever you want to call it). Those idiots clapping him after he'd been sent off were almost as equally idiotic.
Whilst a 3 or 4 game ban is probably more warranted, he can't have too many complaints with the league being more harsh than they could have been. This type of behaviour should be clamped down on at whatever level of football is being played and the fact that Bacuna is being used a deterrent case is simply unlucky for him.
You come into physical contact with an official and you deserve whatever you get.
It's a pity that he'll be paid while sitting on his arse for the next 6 games.

[PaulTheVillan]

Jonjo Shelvey banned for 5 games for racsim.
Bacuna banned for 6 games for an altercation with the assistant ref.

How do the FA explain that?

[old man villa fan]

It's not referee's actual decisions or the FA's in this case that upset fans, it's the inconsistency of the decisions.

But how can you say this is inconsistent with the ban Shelvey got when they're incomparable?

My comment was in general.

[paul_e]

Yeah my issue here is that we've seen, for years, players pushing and pulling at refs and getting a 3-4 match ban so why is this one deemed so much worse, I can't help but think that somehow we're seen as a soft target, big enough to make people take notice but not one of the top 4-5 who'd get loads of coverage complaining about it.

I can't argue with that and it does seem inconsistent with some previous punishments.

But for me, it's about time it was clamped down on and I hope that any player from now on doing anything similar gets the same or worse than Bacuna. I have no sympathy for him at all. If you are aggressive to any authority figure, you should expect severe punishment. Do it to your boss, you get sacked. Do it to a copper, you get nicked. Football should be no different and 'ooh, it's just because I care' is not an excuse.

The behaviour of players and managers at the top level is directly to blame for this in my opinion, it sets the trend for lower level and amateur football.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39150413

I sort of agree but clamping down on something shouldn't mean an arbitrary increase in the punishment for that type of offence in the middle of a season with no warning from the FA that it was coming.

Compare this to the rugby changes with high tackles, they made a very early announcement of what the changes were, why they being made and when they were going live.  That removes any doubt from it.  Events before and after that date which fit the criteria are incomparable in terms of punishments.  Take that away and it feels more like the FA seeing an opportunity and the player being used as a patsy.  No matter what you're opinion is on a suitable length of ban for what he did the clear precedence is 4 matches and there's no justification in the event for breaking from that.  If we do appeal I find it hard to see how the length of the ban can be upheld given the Akpom one.

If it were down to me I'd put out an incredibly hardline process for this which would involve bans far longer than 6 weeks and be zero tolerance on any act of aggression towards any official.

[adrenachrome]

I'd send them to the sin bin for swearing and make them drink London tap water for poking or otherwise interfering with the officials. Chest bumping a  defenseless lino would result in 96 hours of listening to Bono caterwauling.

[Chris Harte]

We can bemoan the inconsistencies of this ban from the Football League, but at the end of the day had Bacuna not acted the total dick this wouldn't even be a discussion.

I'd love to see his wages stopped for the duration of the ban but I bet that's not allowed.

[cdbearsfan]

We can bemoan the inconsistencies of this ban from the Football League, but at the end of the day had Bacuna not acted the total dick this wouldn't even be a discussion.

True.

Just as, if the linesman (RIP) could spot a Derby player kicking the ball out from two yards away, this wouldn't even be a discussion.

[PaulWinch again]

Seems excessive to me.

[Chico Hamilton III]

I'd be tempted to go down the rugby disciplinary route as well. I'd shave Bacuna's eyebrows off, make him drink a pint of his own piss and then rub Deep Heat on his dicky di-do.

[Ad@m]

Yeah my issue here is that we've seen, for years, players pushing and pulling at refs and getting a 3-4 match ban so why is this one deemed so much worse, I can't help but think that somehow we're seen as a soft target, big enough to make people take notice but not one of the top 4-5 who'd get loads of coverage complaining about it.

I can't argue with that and it does seem inconsistent with some previous punishments.

But for me, it's about time it was clamped down on and I hope that any player from now on doing anything similar gets the same or worse than Bacuna. I have no sympathy for him at all. If you are aggressive to any authority figure, you should expect severe punishment. Do it to your boss, you get sacked. Do it to a copper, you get nicked. Football should be no different and 'ooh, it's just because I care' is not an excuse.

The behaviour of players and managers at the top level is directly to blame for this in my opinion, it sets the trend for lower level and amateur football.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39150413

Compare this to the rugby changes with high tackles...  That removes any doubt from it. 

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.