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“Gallas foul deserved action”

25 Jan 2010

There are some refereeing decisions that cannot be excused. Not all fouls can be spotted, but Alan Wiley's refusal to penalise William Gallas for his challenge on Mark Davies in Arsenal's victory over Bolton Wanderers last week was a serious blunder.

The incident came at a pivotal time. Cesc Fabregas went on to score and make it 2-2 with Davies lying injured. No blame can be attached to the Gunners for playing on, as the convention of kicking the ball out of play in order for opposing players to receive treatment is no longer in force.

However, the incident was not significant because it changed the course of the game - Arsenal would surely have gone on to win without Fabregas' goal - but because of the nature of the challenge. It was a dangerous lunging stamp that was more likely to cause injury than it was to win the ball fairly.

The fact the FA have decided not to take action against Gallas is strange, as these sorts of fouls are what need to be taken out of the game. There is too much emphasis on minor offences. As frustrating as players getting away with diving and shirt-pulling is, it is the career-threatening foul that really need to be stamped out, no pun intended.

Meanwhile, the Gunners suffered a defeat to Stoke this weekend, dumping them out of the FA Cup.

While you can bet FA Cup final football would have been a priority for Arsenal fans, manager Arsene Wenger seemed less concerned.

He attributed his weakened team to injuries and the tough fixture list the side faces in the coming weeks.

However, the online betting odds suggest that the Gunners are still in with a chance of lifting a trophy as they are among the favourites for the Premier League title.