March 9 2015

Speroni was illegally attacked during a WBA match but there was no video judgement on his assailant

Jamesey is very upset at the FA's decision to suspend Mile Jedinak on video evidence.

A while back I wrote a report on a game but admitted that I had only seen it on TV and based my comments on that and the views of fellow supporters whose opinions I trusted.

I was robustly (current vogue word!) criticised by HOL members who insisted that I was unqualified to report on a game that I hadn't attended.

At the time I vigorously defended myself, as one does, but slowly came round to admitting that my critics had a very strong case and since then I have always made it clear in my comments whether I was there in person or not.

I was, therefore, shocked to hear that Mile Jedinak had been given a four-game suspension purely on the video evidence watched by FA officials. But more of that later.

Anyone interested enough to read my columns will know that I no longer attend any away games unless I am in the home area (only three times so far). The reason is that my age and general health make standing up for two hours untenable. I don't want to be staring at somebody's back for the whole game, so I don't go in the Palace area any more.

Quickly looking at our last three games - I was unable to get to the home league fixture against Arsenal (Feb 21) but even allowing for their two extremely dodgy goals, I thought we were the best team and really should have taken the three points. Earlier today my view was endorsed by one of the most fanatical Gooners I have ever met, Andy of Sutton, my Greek-Cypriot friend and barber, who totally agreed with me. My case rests.

The following week's game away to West Ham (Feb 28) was an absolute pleasure to watch (thanks again staffie for all the links). Regardless of some Press reports that our victory was because West Ham were a little off-colour, isn't it funny that when we win convincingly it's often because the opponents didn't perform and not because we were good. I must belt up or I'll start sounding like Neil Warnock - always complaining!

I could, however, have done without Glenn Murray charging around like a kamikaze kick boxer. His inevitable red card did our reputation or our chances of winning the match no good at all.

Coming to the present and our away game at Southampton, again watched by your correspondent on a computer link, it seemed like a well deserved draw would be a nice outcome until Julian Speroni's fumble allowed the Saints to bang in the winning goal.

The mention of Jools brings me back to the issue of trial by video.

Last autumn, in an away game against West Bromwich Albion (Oct 25), our keeper was subjected to one of the most blatant attacks by a Baggies player, bordering on GBH, that I have ever seen on a football pitch. Jools who never goes in for histrionics was floored for quite a time after that vicious foul.

What happened? Nothing, not even a free kick never mind a card of some kind. Did any of the wallies at the FA watch a video of that?

Of course not, as I don't think it was shown or discussed on MOTD.

In the case of Jedi's suspension, one wonders whether the FA would have been so keen to act if it had been Wayne Rooney or Jack Wilshere or any other player with a big money club and a mouthy manager behind them?

How many videos of games do they watch and what are their reasons for choosing a game? A mention on MOTD, a complaint by a manager, a message from the spirit world on the Ouija board?

In Jedi's case the match referee didn't see or didn't think it relevant and not even a free kick was awarded. We all know that on the replay it did look like a deliberate elbow and Jedi saw fit not to contest it.

But do videos always tell the whole truth? I, for one, don't think so.

Could this be the thin end of the wedge towards awarding goals that were disallowed or cancelling goals because a panel of besuited clowns in their Wembley offices watched a video the following day?

In which case, could we start with Palace 3, Arsenal 2; West Ham 1, Palace 3 (no video needed for this one); Southampton 1, Palace 2.

That'll do nicely, thank-you.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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