FA charge Everton and Chelsea but Ivanovic gets off scot-free

, 12 February, 98comments  |  Jump to most recent
The Football Association have announced that both Everton and Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players in last night's match.

A statement on the governing body's website reads:

Both Chelsea and Everton have been charged by The FA for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour.

Players from both sides squared up to each other after Gareth Barry tripped Willian late in the 0-0 draw and Chelsea' Branislav Ivanovic was pictured with a forceful arm around the throat of James McCarthy as he held him back before pushing his head into the Irish international's face.

McCarthy was booked, along with Cesc Fabregas and Ramires, and Barry was shown a second yellow card for the infringement that sparked the incident.

Ivanovic escaped censure from referee Jonathan Moss and was involved in the lead-up to the Chelsea goal that came from the free kick once play resumed.  



Reader Comments (98)

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Ralph Basnett
1 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:23:02
Total cop out. Punish the whole team and then Ivanovic won’t be singled out?
Brian Waring
2 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:25:08
I don’t understand how they can charge both teams, but in the same breath say that the player who kicked it all off, Ivanovic, will face no further punishment.
Nick Waters
3 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:24:11
FA now running scared of upsetting Mourinho. I hope the club contests it but I doubt it because it would be pointless as it’s not a question of which team offended most or of who started it.

As for no action against Ivanovic....just desperate stuff. Mac gets a yellow and Ivanovic not even that.

Brian Waring
4 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:31:30
The panel who look at the incidents say the Ivanovic ’butt’ would not have been worthy of a red card, what about when Ivanovic grabs McCarthy in a head lock, you can actually see McCarthy going red in the face.
Tony Waring
5 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:36:57
Bloody disgrace but what do you expect. Mourinho is untouchable.
Peter Gorman
6 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:43:03
Totally predictable stuff. Football is so ugly it is unreal.
Brian Waring
7 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:44:13
You could say all the crap Mourinho has come out with, conspiracy, agenda’s etc against Chelsea has worked a treat.
Steve Carse
8 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:50:33
Brian (7) it was certainly there in the ref’s subconscious in his booking of Besic for the first challenge of the game.
Mike Price
10 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:54:32
Mourinho’s played a blinder, that’s the first little dividend paid from his perfectly planned agenda.

Insult to injury to Everton, the best behaved bunch of honest nice boys in the league get charged with the dark arts masters.

It’s time this management, players and club grew up and started playing big boy rules. No one gives a flying one about poor, hard done to Everton.

Eric Holland
11 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:58:44
Total gobshites at the FA, shit scared of Mourinho. Duncan Ferguson went to prison for not much more.
Ian Burns
12 Posted 12/02/2015 at 17:57:40
Shithouse loudmouth scheming manager 3 points;

Well mannered, uncontroversial manager 0 points.

Which do you prefer?

Tony Draper
13 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:01:29
The FA Official website
Link

They chose the image, so what does that say about complete hypocrisy?

Andy Cobham
14 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:11:19
It’s this kind of shite that is turning supporters off Football. Not only do we have to put up with the fact that we have inept referees who can’t seem to see what’s going on right in front of them, and often don’t seem to know the rules- after the event when it’s blatantly obvious who needs to be punished, they some how cock it up again.

I don’t want to believe that corruption is at the heart of this, but it really feels like that’s the case...and it makes me question whether I want to bother with footy anymore, especially when Everton seem to be on the end of more shitty decisions and injustices than just about anyone else.

Paul Chaloner
15 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:36:21
I agree with Andy 14. It’s hard not to believe there is corruption at work when the Sky4 consistently referee their own matches and get away with it. Moss one of those leaning most towards these clubs.

In an effort to avoid responsibility the FA charge both clubs. The more money in the game the more this will happen. It’s time we grew up and started being ’professional’ it’s what they seem to want.

Tom Evans
16 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:38:36
Spineless bastards running the game sucking up to the top clubs there for all to see. Nothing less than what I had expected.
Brin Williams
17 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:44:55
This is exactly the sort of things that has turned me off football.

Kowtowing to the 'elite' and fuck the rest - and we 'Everton' will sit
back and let them walk all over us.

It makes me sick and but for the fact that I am an 'Evertonian' first and foremost I would not bother with any of them.

Fuck 'em all!!

Colin Glassar
18 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:57:43
Money talks and Chelsea have lots of it.
Phil Rodgers
19 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:54:40
An absolute disgrace. Football has gone to the fucking dogs. He is doing exactly what Ferguson used to do.

How many times this season have the opposition had a player charged retrospectively against us?

Carl Sanderson
20 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:57:06
That is beyond farce. Ivanovic locks his forearm across McCarthy's windpipe within 12 inches of the referee and gets away with it Scot-free. I'm surprised the FA haven't charged McCarthy retrospectively with walking on the blades of grass.
Oliver Molloy
21 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:54:43
Disgraceful decision by the FA,but are we really surprised.
How Ivanovic escapes TOTALLY is beyond me.
I hope it comes back to haunt them and Chelsea,for they have now opened a giant can of worms.

Basically I guess all players now know that you can grab an opposing player by the throat,put him in a headlock and stick your head into his head right in front of the referee who will do nothing!
You couldn't make this up.

Karl Jones
22 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:59:15
The FA are a bunch of idiots who preside over a multi-billion pound industry and employ unfit, weak willed and easily manipulated officials, whose inept decisions more often than not decide the outcome of PL matches.

This is another example of a decision which leads me to question whether they are being manipulated themselves by the mega rich clubs.

The most corrupt sport in the world.

Ian Jones
23 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:01:42
Interesting that the link to the FA site indicates that if the match officials didn't spot the original incident a panel of 3 decides.

Why was a panel needed in the first place. Can't believe the ref didn't see it. He seems to have a good view.

Tom Evans
24 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:02:51
Panel of three former elite referees my fucking arse. Since when have we had "elite" officials?Self serving fucks the lot of them.

It has been a long time since I have been this wound up about such matters.

Colin Glassar
25 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:03:23
Nothing in football surprises me any more. The FA and Scudamore are beholden to the super rich clubs (Chelsea and the two Manchester teams) followed closely by their sentimental favourites; Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs. The rest of us just make up the numbers.

If these teams fail then, in their opinion, their brand fails and if their brand fails....... It's all about money to them and if that means turning a blind eye to cheating, gross misconduct, biased refereeing etc.....then so be it.

Commentators, pundits, journalists, sports presenters etc...are all part and parcel of this private club and they are their to ensure the status quo remains. Justice? Fair play? Equal rights? Respect? Forget it. This is a mafia, mob rule, oligarchy, plutocracy call it what you want it's a fucking disgrace but it's what we've got.

Carl Sanderson
26 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:08:04
Tom, I'm not wound up at all. It is so predictable that I'm not even angry.

What does rile me is tin-pot clubs like Chelsea and Man City being regarded as "big teams" on account of the fact that they have dropped the fucking lottery, and reaping the benefits from an obsequious media and cowed officials. (This morning's Daily Mirror referred to Willian's goal as "sensational", "stunning", etc. There was no mention of a deflection and no mention of Ivanovic.) Now that really rings my fucking bell.

Michael Winstanley
27 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:11:28
What a corrupt pile of shite.
Carl Sanderson
28 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:12:57
Colin Glassar, that is an excellent post. As long as the game keeps better bigger and richer, no-one will rock the boat.
Ross Edwards
29 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:11:00
Incompetent, clueless, idiotic, out of touch, self serving, dinosaurs who have proven once again that English football is being ruined by this clique.

'Elite' officials. Do me a favour. Refereeing this season has been atrocious and probably the worst I've ever seen. Mike Riley is an absolute joke and it's incredible that he is still in a job after presiding over the worst decline in refereeing ever in the Premier League.

The media are up Mourinho's backside and are in awe of this puppet master making them dance to his childish rhetoric. The FA have massively shit themselves over this 'campaign' rubbish he's been spouting and have done this.

Spineless decision by a group of useless dinosaurs who have no right to run our game whatsoever.

Barry Thompson
30 Posted 12/02/2015 at 18:50:19
How many of the referees currently officiating in the Premier League would you class as being anything other than shite. Week-in and week-out the bollocks dropped by these useless pricks are the main topic of the post-match analysis.

Jon Moss, regardless of his fuck ups last night has got to be one of the very worst. But hey, what can we expect when their boss is 'Old Mother Riley' another useless prick when he was officiating.

Football is too big a business these days and the decisions, or should that be 'non decisions' made by these SKY 5 loving homers and bottle merchants can cost clubs dearly come the seasons end. I by the way, don't believe it all evens itself out.

Will Firstbrook
31 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:12:36
There was no way in hell the FA was going to provoke that Russian dog with the threat of another player suspension after the Costa. fiasco. Certainly not at the expense of a little Club like our's.

Like it or lump it, the end result was never in doubt. Weak willed officials, weak-willed governing body - it's a farce. Has been for some time an will continue to be as long as there is mega $$$ at stake.

Brett Jonathan
32 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:21:17
Mourinho really is a master at this media manipulation game. Concrete evidence showing Ivanovic stirring things up - covered from every angle, but Chelsea get off. Well done Jose.

One day we might have a manager who thinks there is more to a post-match press conference than telling every how awesome they are.

Kunal Desai
33 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:21:38
I think this is where people just give up on football. You don't see these sorts of shitty decisions from people who govern the sports of rugby and cricket. Football is going one way and more and more footballing fans and supporters will look for entertainment elsewhere.
Dean Adams
34 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:28:40
We have been told time and again that it is "intent" that is the trigger as to recieving a card or not. Just wonder how much intent you have to show. FA saying that Ivanovic incident did not merit a card! Just how far are they going to go with this incredible show of blatant cheating? Every year it gets worse. Some one has to make a stand or the game will turn into a fiasco, which is’nt far away.
Barry Thompson
35 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:27:54
Bottom line for me is that we are just too fucking nice. The antics and cheating from those chavvy bastards last night was a disgrace especially from that reprehensible pair of twats Terry and Ivanovic. How I wish we had someone in our team capable of snapping either of them two shithouses in half. Nice wins fuck all these days.
Mike Green
36 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:35:04
The worst part is it's so horribly believable. Tossers, one and all. Best not thinking about it too much to be honest.
Tom Evans
37 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:42:28
Echoing Barry#35, I am being swayed by the calls for us to start acting like twats and for some of our leading players to grow a pair and start facing up to the likes of that cunt Terry.

Gloves off now, blue boys, for fucks sake.

Carl Sanderson
38 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:43:56
Today's Grauniad basically said that Ivanovic had to be charged. It's easy to imagine the milquetoasts at the FA letting Ivanovic off just to spite the odd journalist who calls it as he sees it.
Carl Sanderson
39 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:47:24
Barry 35:

You are totally right. Terry, Gerrard, Flamini, Fabregas (what a twat he is) - they are all constantly in the refs' faces, all game in every game. It is psychological warfare and we are shit at it.

Oh for the days when Reid, Gray, van den Hauwe, Ratcliffe took no shit off anyone. Mind you, Sharp was a right moaning twat.

Paul Hewitt
40 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:50:37
No live forum anyone know why?
Rupert Sullivan
41 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:47:58
Really it shouldn't be a surprise...

1. If the FA charge Invanovic, that is akin to saying the ref was inept
2. If they say the ref was inept, that is akin to saying the FA fielded an inept ref
3. If the FA start criticising refs, then they cannot fine managers for doing the same
4. If the FA field rubbish refs, then they are rubbish, and all of that money they receive is not worth it

As well as all of this, this type of controversy is what keeps football in the newspapers, which keeps it in the public eye, which raises its profile - and on and on.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it" - well, likewise the FA, they will never remove this sort of thing from the game for as long as it profits them for it to remain.

I for one cannot be bothered with it anymore

Barry Thompson
42 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:52:44
Carl @39, I know it is a ToffeeWeb cliché now, but I blame Moyes with all his – "I won’t have any of my players diving or cheating to gain an advantage" bollocks
Rob Halligan
43 Posted 12/02/2015 at 19:51:51
As soon as Barry "committed" the foul last night, Fabregas, was jumping up and down like a fucking demented baboon waving his imaginary card. In the mean time, that useless twat Terry was sprinting 50 yards to shove his face in the refs face, practically demanding Barry sent off. This is what annoys me most, professionals trying to get another professional sent off.

And since when has "a trip" on the halfway line right by the touchline, been a bookable offence? Once the melee had started, I couldn't see the Ivanovic/McCarthy incident. Having seen pictures later on though, Jon Moss is about 2 feet away looking at the Boston strangler choking McCarthy to death, and claims he never saw it!! It beggars belief, it really does, the mighty shall not be punished, no matter what!

Carl Sanderson
44 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:01:40
Chelsea have been at it for years, though. I remember Gronkjaer getting one of ours sent off (Unsworth?) by some tool of a referee and Gallas getting Beattie sent off on another occasion.
Terence Tipler
45 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:13:26
PH. Perhaps were to have a break from all the bitching.
Wayne Smyth
46 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:06:10
Barry Thompson, I couldn’t agree more.

I was more pissed off at our naive nicey-nicey attitude than I was with the loss. If McCarthy had hit the deck holding his throat when Ivanovich grabbed him, we could well have seen 2 reds and got a point, or more.

All the clubs that win things have the same win-at-all-costs mentality. As long as we continue to be fools who show respect to refs, don’t dive or cheat we will be playing effectively a man down. For all the good things Moyes did, this was one of the things I hate most about his legacy.

The governing body will do fuck all about it. I heard Scudamore talking on the radio about the "show" a few days ago. It’s not been sport for a long time, they want talking points and they want the usual suspects to win by any means possible so the media have their heroes to fawn over.

Tony Draper
47 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:00:42
We know that we get fuckall from referees, always have and always will.

The last bloody thing that I want to see is our lads diving like bloody faeries or mobbing referees or faking injury.

The most detestable creature that I've ever seen was that vile cheat suarez............god forbid any Everton player ever resorted to those hystrionics. Yes, I really would rather lose than win by cheating.

That doesn't mean that we as a club should meekly accept that we get shafted by these (predominantly foreign) cheating bastards. Everton really should make a fucking noise about this, and not just RM but the whole bloody lot. Not once but repeatedly, and if that means that we get censured, then we get censured, but we don't stop. Furthermore, we shouldn't do it only when we get the shit end, but when others do too........because we'll gain in the long run.

Mike Green
48 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:23:15
Bang on, Tony (#47) – how we've been charged is a complete joke and the club as a whole need to kick off about it. Alternatively the team should start pulling together a bit more and get stuck into a player the next time he lays a hand on one of hours, there should've been three or four all over Ivanovic and Terry. Horrible twats.
Dave Abrahams
49 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:14:38
I agree with most of the comments on here but I think Everton must contest these allegations.

I can't recall the whole incident when Barry made the foul but what I did see almost all of the aggression was started by Chelsea players and Stones and Coleman were trying to calm Chelsea players down, McCarthy took unbelievable aggression from Ivanovic without having a go back which would have been very understandable.

We, as a club, should hire a top barrister and make an issue of this affair and highlight the total bias and unfairness of these absurd charges and also show, with TV views of this whole affair.

Barry Thompson
50 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:20:50
Tony, I respect your stance and you are obviously fully entitled to take it, however I will stand by mine.

If I had the choice last night between them fuckers ensuring Barry sent off and then scoring a last minute goal and winning the match or KM making the most of the slightest of contact and going down like he’d been shot and getting us a penalty in the 89th minute that was converted to give us the points.

I know what I’d go for every single time and I wouldn’t lose a second of sleep over it either. Both Moyes and Martinez have sent DVD’s of referee fuck ups to the head honcho and may as well have sent their wedding videos for all the difference it has made.

Sean Kelly
51 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:40:23
Why get too upset folks. After all we are the People’s Club. The decent folks of the Premier League. We are not at the top table when deals are being done so we have to accept where we are.

Oh btw, where was captain bootlaces while this was going on. Having a laugh with a Chelsea tramp player probably.

Tony Draper
52 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:38:02
Dave @49
Yes we bloody well should and we should tackle this shite every single time it happens and become a fucking terror for them until this "embracery" stops.

ALL football fans in this country know that it's going on week in and out and it's the same fucking clubs benefitting week in and out.

If Everton were to back up say Palace or Swansea in their next games, then I'd be fucking proud of the stance being taken to end the double standards......you can only tolerate corruption for so long, then you either join in, or stand up and be counted.

I know which path I want Everton Football Club to take.

James Byrne
53 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:33:15
No surprises then. The shower of shithouses at the FA prove once again that they are corrupt to the core and not fit for purpose.

Two things about last night – the ref was a disgrace and the incompetent twat needs to consider retirement.

We are too nice and one of the main reasons is because of our captain Jags; I've nothing against the lad and he's been a top pro for years, but he's not captain material.

Dave Abrahams
54 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:36:05
Sorry to go on about this, but clubs are actively coaching and encouraging players to kick off and challenge officials decisions.

Gerrard has been doing it since he started playing and now he is on the way out Henderson is taking up the role, he started the kick off on Saturday when it had nothing to do with him running over 20 yards to get involved.

As many have stated the game stinks but until a club or better still a few clubs get together and start challenging these ridiculous FA charges the whole game will just not be worth watching.

Stephen Brown
55 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:49:02
Colin #25 spot on! What a sad state of affairs and we will never join the party unless we get some billionaire!

If I had my way I would issue a directive that any crowding of the ref or dissent equals a straight red card! If games end up 6v6 for a week or so then so be it they'd soon stop it! Only the captain to speak to the ref- it works in rugby! These idiots are roel models earning more in a day than a doctor does in a year!

God I hate football at the moment! Do I admire Everton for having some morals - yes I do!

Darren Hind
57 Posted 12/02/2015 at 20:40:45
Sorry Guys, despite the merits of all the above a Chelsea fan would just think we are bleating.

Remember our greatest night ? When the Bayern Management were screaming the house down because we were kicking ass all over the pitch HK leaned across and made the most profound statement in our history. . . ."FUCK YOU" he said.

Winners just think differently, that all.

Dave Abrahams
58 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:04:55
Darren (57), did we try to get anyone sent off? Did we harass the ref to get phoney decisions? No, we played it very hard but fair, there is a big difference.

When we cheat and cheat with the sole aim of winning the game then that would be it for me. I might be in the minority but I know I would be right, and as Pope John Paul said "the majority is not always right".

Paul Andrews
59 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:14:29
It was Andy Gray who offered the words of advice to Uli Hoeness, not Howard Kendall.

Now he was a winner.

Paul Tran
60 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:07:56
Two things wrong here. First, this wasn't Chelsea v Marine, it was Chelsea v Everton. Plucky little Everton is rearing it's ugly head again. We should be giving Chelsea a fright, we should be going there expecting a result. We made them work hard for their win, that's it. Won't mean anything unless we toughen up and beat the teams around and below us.

Second, I want to see more EFC players like Macca, telling the ref what he thinks. We know Chelsea try to referee games, so let's meet it head on and deal with it. The good sides know how to mix it and play it hard when they need to. This team needs to man up....and so do we.

Barry Thompson
61 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:09:01
I'll bet those same Chelsea fans were bleating like fuck when Costa got his retrospective 3-game ban though. Easy to accuse other fans of bleating when your team are the constant perpetrators. Whine like fuck when they feel it is them being victimised though, hence the antics and mind games out of Mourinho.
Darren Hind
62 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:18:33
David I'm with you and Pope John Paul. The majority are not always right.

But we cant have it both ways; if we won't dance with the devil, we cant complain when those who will, walk off with all the silverware. IMO, it really is a case of either or...

The games been rotten since it took the Murdoch shilling, we none of us can be shocked by last night . . .or todays ruling

Tony Draper
63 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:12:37
Darren @57

Why on earth would any Evertonian care what Chelsea "fans" think?

As has been said upon TW for other reasons, Evertonians are far too tolerant. That our players behave with style and dignity is absolutely correct. That our club allows blatant manipulation is not. We are not alone in repeatedly being handed the shitty end, patted upon the head and being openly told "Chin up, it's all for the best. We ALL need the money that the 'Pretty Boys' bring in, now don't we?"

When the truth is this, the "Plucky Clubs" create the real fucking interest in the EPL. Because despite the blatant favouritism, ANY club in the EPL can beat any club in the EPL.

Yet, how much better could it all be if the bullshit was dropped for a decade?

TV executives work on very short term contracts, and so are just "Viewer Grabbers" in their approach. They know fuckall about the game, so they play simplistic percentages.

Hence the "beloved" Michael Owen delivering his deeply insightful and fascinating observations of "the beautiful game". Sweet baby Judas if ever anyone was living proof that playing at the highest level and playing for LFC are the "anti-qualifications" for presenting EPL football then it's Michael Elizabeth Owen.

Dave Abrahams
64 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:33:51
Darren, I won't dance with the Devil so any club that cheats to win can have all the trophies going, I just couldn't accept Everton being like that.

That doesn't mean I don't understand fans who want to, it's just not for me.

Darren Hind
65 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:35:31
Sorry Dave A, that was addressed to you .. .don't know why I called you David
Brent Stephens
66 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:33:45
We say the big clubs do it and get away with it (in the ref's face; other "gamesmanship", etc), so we should do it. Problem is, given that most think that the FA and the ref's are colluding with the big clubs, then if we do it we don't get away with it. Can't win.
Andy Crooks
67 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:26:24
Would it not be great if Roberto just calmly said on MotD that Chelsea were cheats and that Terry has been a cheat all his career. Let the FA charge Roberto and in his defence show years of evidence of their cheating.

The FA are spineless. Their tolerance of Fifa corruption sums them up. Spineless and self serving.

Darren Hind
68 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:40:15
I understand Dave, but Im so desperate for a trophy, I would dance with the devil right round GP if it meant silverware.

Dave Abrahams
69 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:44:35
Darren (68) fair enough but I'd dance faster and better if we won fair and squar, but I do understand how you feel.
Darren Hind
70 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:44:20
Tony we shouldn't give a flying fuck what Chelsea fans think. It was a clumsy attempt to show the other side of the coin.
Jamie Crowley
71 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:58:10
I just saw this and I'm flabbergasted!

A man grabs another man around both arms rendering him completely defenseless. The he grabs him around the neck.

Hell that's assault.

I said on another thread and I'll say it again – I'd not blame any player for defending himself if that happened. A man, when confronted with a violent act, has every right in the world to retaliate. If I were McCarthy I'd take matters into my own hands next time, no matter the consequences. You can't sit idly by while another man chokes you.

Soccer is completely fucked up in this regard. It really is.

Kevin Tully
72 Posted 12/02/2015 at 21:57:44
Let's be honest here, the team, the management and the owners of EFC are all collectively happy just to be in this League.

Not one board member, first team player or manager actually believe we should be going to Chelsea and playing them at their own game. Liverpool or Man Utd, no matter how poor, always believe they are on a par with anyone in this division.

We fucking missed the boat 20-odd years ago... but do you know what's the most galling part of all that? A few years before the creation of 'The Sky League' we were actually Champions. Our then esteemed chairman, Philip Carter, was one of the founders and drivers of this whole shebang. We never had a fucking clue. He's still on our board by the way. The man who missed the chance he actually created. You couldn't make it up.

We should be on a par with all the big clubs. Accrington Stanley have more executive boxes than Everton. Sickening.

Andy Walker
73 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:00:07
I don't get the enraged disgust at Chelsea's behaviour on the one hand and the suggestion that we should therefore be more like them. Very strange.

But don't let that ditract from another loss. Relegation Roberto is still on target to deliver disaster to our club.

Bill Gall
74 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:09:56
Everton should appeal this decision as there is plenty of video evidence starting with the foul when the Everton players backed away and the Chelsea players can be seen running in from 20-30 yards away to get to the referee and to confront the Everton players.

My concern is that if they loose an appeal the fine will increase and instead of backing the club BK will not appeal

Tony Hill
75 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:17:35
If only we could follow the Atletico Madrid model. They are of relatively modest means but they have forced themselves into the top tier with clarity, determination and excellent management (as well as some fine players, I acknowledge). It can be done even with a small squad.

We lost our nerve last year when we got close to breaking the top 4. It is still not too late for a side to confound the Sky favourites monopoly but any such side has to believe it can be done, really believe it. It's that mental block which needs to be got over just as much as the financial deficit and the bias of officials.

Rob Halligan
76 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:26:38
If you want to be successful in football nowadays, you need to "fight fire with fire". If "you can't beat em, join em". In other words let's be snidey, let's be aggressive in the referees face, fuck, let's even start diving in the penalty area to win penalties or feigning injury to get an opponent sent off. It's the only way to be a success nowadays.
Will Firstbrook
77 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:09:49
Play the same game that other's are playing or accept you will always be at a disadvantage. Not especially great options.

It really sickens me to see what the game has become. Back in the golden age of football, there would not have been any whining to the ref if a player pulled a stunt like yesterday – the bastard would have been running for his life!

Marketing, money, egos, media, etc... have completely bastardized the game. There is no honour, sportsmanship, or camaraderie amongst players. The game is rife with self-inflated, egotistical mercenaries whoring themselves out to the highest paying pimp.

Having said that, if the FA really had any desire to clean up the game's image, first thing would be to put a clamp on every player's mouth during a match (like in rugby) when it comes to interacting with officials. At least that should cut down on the amount of player intimidation that is happening on the pitch. Start carding the turds throwing up their arms simulating a card (same for the turd throwing himself down on the pitch looking for a card) whenever there is any contact. Last I checked, there was contact in this game. But most importantly, hire and train competent refs!!! FFS John Moss isn't even fit to officiate a match involving 10 year olds!

But will the FA do anything? Not a chance. The team's that would be impacted (i.e., suffer the most) from such changes are the same one's that bankroll the FA.

Allow the apathy to wash over you.

Nicholas Ryan
78 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:39:17
At the next home game, I'm going to go up to a uniformed police officer; grab him round the throat, stick my forehead into the back of his head, and say: 'Don't worry officer...it's not violent conduct"!!

...wonder what sort of reception I'll get?!

...what sort of reception would I get, if I did it in Serbia!!

Rob Halligan
79 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:43:03
Probably a rousing reception from the crowd Nicholas. Plod might not be so enthusiastic though!!
Dick Fearon
80 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:37:30
During the entire game, it was noticeable in any incident involving Chelsea that their captain John Terry was among the first to offer advice to the referee. This plus the aggressive antics of his team mates usually aided their cause.

I know Roberto as did Moyes is supposedly on a learning curve yet I wonder how effing long it will take before he/they recognize that certain refs have a weakness of character that opponents use as part of their game plan.

Dick Fearon
81 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:49:41
The Ivanovic/ McCarthy incident demonstrates how little influence Everton holds with the FA and how much of it does Chelsea.
Andy Finigan
82 Posted 12/02/2015 at 22:34:47
In my humble opinion the teams with the most money who now buy the most expensive players are putting that much pressure on the game (we are not paying 15, 20, 30 milion pounds on a player to be out injured) so could you make it a safe game, please?

Now the managers of the richest clubs are crying (if you mention a decision we don't like were off). No wonder the Spanish League is tits up,we are next.

Milos Milenkovic
83 Posted 12/02/2015 at 23:07:31
Lukaku's chance is now hurting even more. How sweet it would've been... I just hope that from now on we will attack every opponent especially Man Utd, Spurs and Arsenal. We are as good as them in terms of players quality. If we could only start to use some normal formation...
Tom Dodds
84 Posted 12/02/2015 at 23:40:15
Kevin (#72),
I, like you and a fairly small band of people, are fed up to the back teeth of waiting to get 'Nixon'/Kenwright 'impeached' so to speak, but I'm afraid this site is no 'Washington Post'.
Mike Corcoran
85 Posted 12/02/2015 at 23:48:47
Michael Owen with his voice like a bent pipe, a broken car horn, like egg white on a flannel.

Thanks, Bob Mortimer.

Mike Price
86 Posted 13/02/2015 at 00:51:59
For all the moaning about how footballs screwed... look at the new £5 billion contract. We either get with it, or we get what we deserve.

I said before the season started that the entire club from management to players are too nice, soft and naive. This is high level, high stakes professional sports but we're stuck in a time warp.

I just watched Football Today in Canada and Phil Neville said the first thing he said when he arrived at Everton was to get around the referee and pressure them. No one was doing anything, the opposite of the winners at Man Utd.

Our approach has to change and we have to scream about this, from Kenwright down. The biggest lie ever, is that these things even out over the season. Do they fuck!

Tommy Coleman
87 Posted 13/02/2015 at 00:59:48
I hope Man City win the league.
Michael Penley
88 Posted 13/02/2015 at 00:36:23
You remember the dissent rule? Refs need to start enforcing it. Chelsea players running up and getting in the ref's face should have been booked. A newcomer to the game wouldn't even suspect such a rule existed. It's got to be enforced like it is in rugby, a warning then a booking. Refs are scared shitless of doing this, for some reason, but it's the only way to stop them being influenced.

I don't blame the refs because let's face it, anyone of us thrown out into the bear-pit of a PL game would be just as terrified and pander to the home crowd and home team. The only thing that will change this is a strict policy to book any form of dissent, and defending refs for doing just that. They aren't ''spineless'', they're just normal people.

James Stewart
89 Posted 13/02/2015 at 01:47:01
Ivanovic is a disgrace. That kind of thing has no place on a football pitch. Made worse by the ref staring straight at it from about a yard away. Another yellow Ref who bottled it against the usual suspects.

Teddy Bertin
90 Posted 13/02/2015 at 01:46:30
I don't really understand the charges. What did any Everton player do? In fact, apart from Ivanovic, what did any Chelsea player do that was any different to the Naisy / Henderson squabble last week?

Okay, the Chelsea players surrounded the ref to get Barry sent off, which was embarrassing but nothing to be FA charged about, and no Everton player did anything as far as I could see. So both teams were charged because Ivanovic kicked off?

Barry got booked again which was probably fair enough but what was McCarthy booked for? Being strangled? In that case Stones should have got a yellow as well.

Paul Kelly
91 Posted 13/02/2015 at 03:03:40
Absolute disgrace. And they say Fifa are corrupt, no more so than our spineless FA.

Football has been my passion for years and now for the first time I’m thinking of knocking it on the head after shit like this.

It’s a joke these days and I can’t see it getting any better.

Ray Roche
92 Posted 13/02/2015 at 09:33:42
Tommy Coleman #87

"I hope City win the League"

Is that the same City that had a "never in a month of Sundays" penalty awarded in their favour against us, the same City that should have had Mangala sent off for violent play and Fernando was lucky to not see red as well for a similar foul.

Doesn't seem to matter who we play out of the Sky favourites, we seldom get our just rewards.

Liam Reilly
93 Posted 13/02/2015 at 11:27:02
Clearly the FA are targeting McCarthy for aggressively shoving his head into Ivanovic's arms
Andrew Clare
94 Posted 13/02/2015 at 13:06:20
Any player making noises about leaving should not be played.

We don't want them.

Jim Hardin
95 Posted 13/02/2015 at 14:09:44
Maybe RM should take a page from Jose and claim that Everton is being targeted for cheap yellow cards, imagined or soft fouls and not being protected by the refs from assaults and stop talking to the press and just come out and list the issues and pay the inevitable fine. Can RM not talk to the press though? Heck, maybe they can produce a slick dossier to back up their points too!
Sean Kelly
96 Posted 13/02/2015 at 14:25:20
Just read the Lukaku comments. What an arrogant prick. Fuck off so and take your mate Miralles with you. Neither of you have set the world on fire and let’s see how many championship teams come in for them.
What’s with these two moody twats insulting OUR club.
Clive Mitchell
97 Posted 13/02/2015 at 18:21:08
We've been charged with failing to control our players. When you think about Lukaku's public questioning of the manager's tactics and disrespect for the club, and Mirallas's public breach of team orders, we're bang to rights!
Pete Edwards
98 Posted 13/02/2015 at 20:21:25
I’m not 100% here but I’m pretty sure I saw Jags in there when it all kicked off, maybe my dodgy stream made it look like it was him??
Jay Harris
99 Posted 17/02/2015 at 15:51:15
Here is the reply I got from the FA:

Thank you for contacting the Football Association.

Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic will not face any further action in relation to an incident involving Everton's James McCarthy in the 86th minute. In Premier League matches, if an incident has not been seen by the match officials, a three-man panel of former elite referees will be asked by The FA to review it and advise what, if any, action they believe the match referee should have taken had it been witnessed at the time.

For an FA charge to follow, all three panel members must agree it is a sending-off offence. In this instance, the panel did not believe the conduct was worthy of a dismissal.

Thank you again for taking the time to write. Whilst I appreciate this may not alleviate your concerns I trust this clarifies our position on this issue.

Wonder who the panel was? (Three ex-Chelsea players perhaps?)

Colin Glassar
100 Posted 17/02/2015 at 16:02:53
There’s a picture of the ref looking directly at the incident so he can’t claim NOT to have seen Ivanovic trying to throttle Macca.

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