LAWS & DISCIPLINE: FA charge Joey Barton for Morten Gamst Pedersen incident - Barclays Premier League

COMMENT: Many present and past referees will welcome this charge which may influence future FA Disciplinary Hearings mainly in Non-League and Amateur League where video evidence are not available.

The Football Association has charged Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton with violent conduct after he appeared to punch Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen in the ribs.

GettyImages

Joey Barton will be given the opportunity to accept a three-match ban

• Barton faces FA spotlight

LONDON. Referee Mike Jones had missed the incident during Wednesday's game at St James' Park but, after reviewing video evidence, Barton now faces disciplinary action. Should he reject the charge, he faces the prospect of a lengthy ban if found guilty. An FA statement said: "Newcastle United FC midfielder Joey Barton has today [Thursday] been charged with violent conduct by the FA following an incident in his side's fixture with Blackburn Rovers FC on Wednesday, 10 November. "Barton has until 6pm on Friday 12 November to reply to the charge and under the FA's fast-track regulations, may admit the charge and accept a standard three-match suspension.''

After the game, a 2-1 win for Blackburn, Rovers assistant manager Neil McDonald said he had faith in the authorities to take the appropriate course of action. "It's obviously foolish and it's the wrong thing to do, but no doubt the powers that be will sort that out," McDonald said. "The pictures are there. It wasn't provoked and I'm sure they will make the right decision about what to do." When it was put to him that the contact Barton made with Pedersen was a "full-blooded punch", McDonald said: "Yes it was, and it was unprovoked as well, which probably makes it worse."

Read more>>
Joey Barton charged by FA for Morten Gamst Pedersen incident - Barclays Premier League - ESPN Soccernet

Football Report : From the Publishers of 1st Interactive Journal. Established 1992. Copyright 2005 -2010 C.S.E. Limited. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproductions of any part forbidden.

Expert and Topical Interactive Journal with News, Reviews and Interviews, Indexes, Match Analysis and Statistics, Review of Rules and Regulations and Laws of the Game, Laws of the Game, Match Officials and Referees Issues, Coaching Tactics and Techniques Debates and Critical Reviews of Televised and Live Competitions Coverage.