Man City Square
Fansided

FA concerned over Manchester City’s failure to control players

By Jason Bardwell

WIGAN, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Fabian Delph of Manchester City is shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Wigan Athletic and Manchester City at DW Stadium on February 19, 2018 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
WIGAN, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Fabian Delph of Manchester City is shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Wigan Athletic and Manchester City at DW Stadium on February 19, 2018 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It was only going to be a matter of time really wasn’t it. Pep Guardiola had just been fined for wearing his yellow ribbon in support of the imprisoned politicians who allowed an independence vote. Meanwhile the FA Chairman was over in Qatar signing a deal.

Now it seems, the FA have moved their focus to the unruly Manchester City players who surrounded the referee in the defeat to Wigan. The FA initially had said that both Wigan and Manchester City would be charged, releasing this as a statement:

"Both Wigan Athletic and Manchester City have been charged for failing to control their players in relation to the dismissal of Fabian Delph during last night’s Emirates FA Cup fifth round tie. The clubs have until 6pm on Friday, Feb. 23 to respond.More from Domestic CupsThe FA Cup 1904; Manchester City’s First Trophy EverManchester City Bow Out of the Carabao CupNo, Man City’s EPL Match Against Chelsea Is Not a Champions League Dress RehearsalMan City’s Carabao Victory Can be a Catalyst for the End of Their SeasonWhy the European Super League is going to end Football"

However, it seems Manchester City are the only club to be fined, as yet at least. Fined £50,000 last week it follows fines issued in incidents against Chelsea and Liverpool. That makes the Wigan incident the third charge in 16-months for the blues.

The money is not the issue for the Blues, but it is a source of irritation. As you may remember it was in fact the Wigan players who surrounded, and bumped, the referee. Their reaction was one of anger to a yellow card being issued, rather than the red they thought the tackle deserved.

For me, I would have been fine with a straight red, Delph was reckless. What I wasn’t fine with, and nor the City players, was the seeming influence that initial berating by the Lactics players had on the referee.

Yet, it seems, that part of the incident has been forgotten and will go unpunished. Then you have the pitch invasion at the end of the game. Sergio Aguero ‘escaped’ punishment after an alteration with a fan, yet Wigan still have yet to face any action over that incident either.

Next: FA Cup: Debating the card

Even the fine is hefty for City. Manchester United were only fined £20k in last seasons FA Cup after a similar incident. When Herrera was sent off, United players surrounded referee, Michael Oliver. Maybe fines have gone up this season, with the amount of money clubs now have.

There again, maybe not. When Spurs and West Ham had the incident in September. Both sides were charged with failing to control their players, and had to pay a £20k fine each.

Home/Domestic Cups