Yaya Toure, Craig Bellamy, Billy Sharp.

[The Red Baron]

There wasn't a covering defender in that case TRB. Or at least not one who could have covered before the Weds player got a shot off. Assuming that Pearce made contact (difficult to see on my mobile) it was a stuck on red card.

Re Pearce:

An FA Statement read: “Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today, Reading’s claim of wrongful dismissal regarding Alex Pearce was upheld. Pearce was dismissed for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity during the game against Sheffield Wednesday on 8 February 2014. His one-match suspension has, therefore, been withdrawn with immediate effect.”


Of course, the FA statement does not make clear whether they ruled that there was no contact between the players (hence it should not have been a penalty or a sending off) or whether there were covering defenders.

Edit:

Have a look at the clip below:

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/pearce-ban-overturned-1353520.aspx

There is the slightest tug on Afobe, who goes down as though he's been shot, but Gorkss comes across and could conceivably have got there first. You can't be sure on what grounds they've upheld it though- they could have deemed the contact by Pearce was insufficient.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Hey ho. What do I know? The a appeal WAS upheld on account if the covering defender.

Watching it again, more carefully, the appeal is correct. If there was contact (doubtful - looked like a dive to me) it was after Ofobe had knocked the ball a good way forward and given Gorkss a chance to cover. First time I watched it, I thought Pearce had nudged Ofobe over and into the ball, and that he'd have had a clear shot without the push.

[HomerJSimpson]

Van winkle or whatever his name is may have said Toure shouldn't have been banned but his reaction at the time didn't say that. Time for the FA to sort out the real cheats in football and also to get some consistency.

The fans may trust then if they do but I doubt they will.

[bobjimwilly]

Couldn't agree more! Pretty bold statement to say they are bent.

Maybe they thought it wasnt a sending off? Or is that just too unbelievable?

Im happy Toure hasnt been punished for it. It was a nothing incident, and even the lad who got 'kicked', has said Yaya shouldnt of been punished.

I said blind or bent if you read again. It was a nothing incident if you ignore the kicking of another player and the breaking of the rules I suppose. And of course van Wolfswinkel is happy Toure wasn't red carded now he's had time to think - City still have to play many of Norwichs relegation rivals. He certainly wasn't happy at the time though was he, you know, before he had time to think.

I'm more than happy to say refs make mistakes. But to start saying they're in the pockets of the "big" clubs is just childish.

I didn't say they were in the pockets, but I suggested that would be an explanation as how one/two/three of the refs on the comittee dismissed such an obvious red card offense. The majority of pundits and commentators can't understand how he wasn't given a retrospective ban either, but maybe you know better?

Ask yourself - did Toure kick the player? Did he do it after the ball had gone? Was their intent?
(I'll give you a clue - the answer is yes to them all)

[BigColSutherland]

I didn't say they were in the pockets, but I suggested that would be an explanation as how one/two/three of the refs on the comittee dismissed such an obvious red card offense.

Make your mind up.

[bobjimwilly]

I'm not going round in circles. Just because you write "make your mind up" it doesn't mean I was contradicting myself, it just means your being a smart arse.

I'll say it one more time, and you can quote me after this:

I'm not saying the refs are bent, but it would, not does, explain things.

[BobG]

That's as clear as anyone can make it BJW.

BobG

[BigColSutherland]

Here's a way of clearing things up for both Bobs.

I'm not saying BJW is our resident idiot, but it would, not does, explain things.

[SoundbiteBarmyArmy]

Has anyone seen what Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (who Yaya Toure kicked) has put on Twitter!?

"Good to see Touré not getting suspended. Players like him belong on the pitch! What happens at Carrow Road stays at Carrow Road."

If they are his feelings on the situation, why did he go down holding his back and making a meal of it?

[bobjimwilly]

Thanks BigCol, you've just confirmed my previous post 

[Northants Nomad]

Has anyone seen what Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (who Yaya Toure kicked) has put on Twitter!?

"Good to see Touré not getting suspended. Players like him belong on the pitch! What happens at Carrow Road stays at Carrow Road."

If they are his feelings on the situation, why did he go down holding his back and making a meal of it?

Because it looks to me that the lad tried it on in the game, realised when he saw it on replay that he looked like a big girls blouse during the 'incident', is a bit embarrassed that his actions have been replayed so much, so has now decided it's best to go with "it's all part of the game" and "look how magnanimous I can be"