Tottenham Hotspur manager has labelled the FA’s decision to let Chelsea striker Fernando Torres off the hook for scratching Jan Vertonghen in the face as a disgrace and a joke.
During the clash at the weekend between the two side’s, Torres was eventually sent off when he was shown a second yellow-card, but on the day, officials claimed they did not see the striker scratch Vertonghen’s face, and that is why the incident went to the FA review panel and they were to judge whether or not to extend the ban from one game, to four.
However, on Tuesday afternoon, the FA announced that they felt the matter was dealt with on the day by the match officials and for that reason, there was no need to slap a ban on the Spaniard.
This decision was not taken well by Andre Villas-Boas who slammed the FA in his press conference yesterday.
‘It’s extremely difficult to know where to start.
‘Obviously, it’s almost a farcical decision. What I think is the FA has made the decision almost a joke. It looks incredible. How can you see the images, pretty clear, and come out without punishment? I think the decision is a disgrace.
‘If the committee can’t solve such clear images I don’t think it sets a good first example.’
‘It doesn’t matter to me which player and which club is involved,’ added Villas-Boas.
‘Neither do I want to put into question Fernando’s integrity; neither their manager’s.
‘We don’t want Fernando suspended because it can make them weaker — their bench is so strong that whoever comes in for him makes them stronger — but what I think is the FA has lost all opportunity to put some sense into the images that everybody saw.’
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
