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Sunday, April 08, 2012

Balotelli set for (longer) ban after Atkinson reviews the video

When Martin Atkinson watches the highlights of the Arsenal-Man City game in the dressing room after the game today, it's more than likely he will report to his superiors in the Premier League that he would have sent off Mario Balotelli for an unpleasant knee-high foul if he had seen it.

Atkinson had two players - one for each side - between him and the incident and it's more likely than not that he did not see the foul on Song.
Incidentally, and far be it for me to criticise a top ref like Atkinson, but he ran a virtual straight line from box to box on Sunday, eschewing the normal diagonal that takes refs wider and allows them better views of incidents.
Balotelli's challenge looked lazy and cynical and it'll be hard for him to justify it to an FA panel, so Man City fans should be prepared to see Tevez getting more involved as Balotelli sits it out for three games.

POST MATCH

Well, he couldn't keep himself on the pitch, could he, finally clattering an Arsenal defender with a scissors tackle that virtually invited Atkinson to show him a second yellow.
He'll be banned for one game for picking up the second yellow, but the FA can also extend the ban if the referee indicated he did not see the challenge and would have red carded Balotelli if he had.

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