Alex Mcleish blasts ‘trial by television’
Birmingham City manager Alex Mcleish has criticized the F.A for their retrospective action policy after Lee Bowyer faces a three match ban for a stamp on Bacary Sagna. The Birmingham midfielder is being charged with violent conduct for his actions in Saturday’s
game against Arsenal. Two separate incidents are being highlighted by the prosecution committee. One is an alleged stamp on Sagna’s knee when the defender lay on the ground; the second is a kick to the back of the Sagna’s Achilles. If Bowyer is found guilty
of these charges, he could be banned for the next three games.
Alex Mcleish is less than impressed by what he calls the ‘trial by television’, believing that the bigger clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham are not scrutinized in such detail. Speaking on Lee Bowyer’s charges, the Birmingham boss said,
“I don't like to see trial by television. But, if we're getting tried by it, then everybody has to be tried by television. We are just looking for fairness. We're not defending anybody if they have made a bad decision (challenge) on the field. If it's going
to be the smaller clubs who are scrutinized, then it's got to happen to the bigger clubs as well. The Samir Nasri challenge on Stephen Carr was nasty, the studs were showing. With ours (Bowyer) there is a big furor and 'oh, he's got to get done'.”
The F.A resorts to retrospective action if an incident is missed by the match referee. They will contact Peter Walton, who was the official in Birmingham’s match against Arsenal, to find out if he saw the incidents for which Bowyer is being charged. If Walton
confirms that he failed to spot the challenge, then the F.A has the option to proceed with the case and charge the Birmingham midfielder with violent conduct.
Lee Bowyer has been very influential for Birmingham this season. If he were to be found guilty, he could face a three match ban. Birmingham City are currently in nineteenth position in the League table, and the absence of Bowyer will be a big blow to their
fight against relegation this season.