Magpies roll the disciplinary dice
Nov 24 2010 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
NEWCASTLE United will today take their chances with the Football Association's disciplinary system.
Win, and Mike Williamson will be available to face Chelsea on Sunday. Lose, and the unsung hero of the Magpies’ season might not play again before Christmas.
The centre-back was charged with violent conduct for an off-the-ball incident with Johan Elmander in Newcastle’s 5-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers. World Cup final official Howard Webb referred the incident, which he did not see, to the FA, who issued a three-match ban on Monday.
With Fabricio Coloccini and Joey Barton already suspended for the champions’ televised visit, the Magpies have decided to contest Williamson’s punish-ment. Some have interpreted the 18th-minute clash as a headbutt, however Newcastle are expected to argue that their player simply barged the Swede, and that the offence was worth no more than a caution.
Williamson has been a key figure for Newcastle in his debut season in the Premier League, reportedly attracting the interest of Tottenham Hotspur, and his form this week earned him a three-year contract extension.
His value will only be heightened by the three-match absence of Coloccini, sent off for elbowing Elmander in the face later in the same game.
The players who will deputise for the pair if needed, Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor, are yet to start a league match this season. Out of contract for much of the pre-season, the form of Williamson and Coloccini has left Campbell on the sidelines. Taylor has not played a single minute this term after missing the early months of the campaign with a shoulder injury.
In an attempt to deter clubs from gambling on appeals, or launching them tactically, the FA have changed their disciplinary procedures in recent years. Cases are now “fast-tracked” so bans are served immediately, which is why Williamson will be dealt with today.
Suspensions are also increased by a game when the FA deem them “frivolous”. Middlesbrough’s Jérémie Aliadière was one of the first victims in February 2008, and last season Sunderland’s Michael Turner and Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand suffered the same fate.
Should Williamson’s appeal be seen in the same light, he will miss the December 18 game against Birmingham City as well as those against Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool. The “frivolous appeal” punishment has acted as a deterrent when Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli and Liverpool’s Joe Cole considered appealing red cards this season, but has actually not been lightly used.
Thomas Vermaelen, Gary Cahill and Laurent Koscielny have all failed to have sendings off overturned (the latter’s was against Newcastle), but in no case was their suspension extended. United will be hoping if the worst comes to the worst, this is Williamson’s fate.
Meanwhile, the Magpies are set to continue their policy of tying down their most promising players. Owner Mike Ashley has been criticised for a lack of transfer market investment, and manager Chris Hughton insists he has no plans to spend in January, but attempts are being made to keep the current squad. Andy Carroll and Williamson have both signed contract extensions this season and Nile Ranger is expected to be next. The 19-year-old striker is believed to have been offered a contract extension which will take him until 2016. Even with Leon Best fit again, manager Chris Hughton has ruled out loaning Ranger to the Championship for more experience.
Ranger would have expected to play in yesterday’s Northumberland Senior Cup tie between Newcastle Reserves and Bedlington Terriers, but the Whitley Park pitch was deemed unplayable because of waterlogging.
