subject: Mancini Feels Red Card Punishment Too Harsh For Balotelli [print this page] Mancini Feels Red Card Punishment Too Harsh For Balotelli
Following the Manchester derby which saw City host United in the Premier League last night, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini contacted all football news sources and blasted the Football Association for their three match ban punishment of Mario Balotelli after the striker was shown a straight red card during their match against West Brom on Sunday.
After the West Brom match, in which Balotelli scored both goals before being sent off, manager Roberto Mancini told the waiting media that he saw the incident and felt that the punishment of a straight red card was too harsh for the offence and outlined the clubs desire to appeal against the decision.
The club placed their appeal into the FA but it was quickly dismissed, the Football Association backing their match official for his handling of the incident.
With the three match ban in place, Balotelli was forced to miss the Manchester derby last night and will now also miss the Premier League fixtures against Birmingham and Fulham.
The anger towards the ban seems to stem from the fact that Mancini felt that the club missed the young striker, telling the media "We missed Mario tonight and it was not the correct decision if you watch some other games, I do not agree with it."
The derby match is considered to be one of the biggest within the English football schedule after tensions between the clubs were intensified even more than usual when City managed to convince Carlos Tevez to trade his red shirt for the sky blue of their club, then placing a huge Welcome to Manchester' poster within the city limits that featured Tevez in a Manchester City shirt.
Expectations high and fans ready from a bloodfest, the game offered very little in the way of passion and excitement, leaving a large percentage of the fans who attended the game disappointed as both teams battle to a goalless draw.
