James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[drummerboy]

Being a Dub defines the deformed accented english he moans in.

No thats probably his Belfast roots you're hearing there.

[Fergie's Son]

He just got clipped round the ear by Rooney. Playing well against United.

[tetsujin1979]

was unlucky not to score, according to the radio commentary, but Van Der Sar did well to save

[SkStu]

saw his chance (the live games here show highlights from other games at half time). VDS made himself big but i would have put money on McCarthy to finish it. One that you'd expect a player to put away.

[SwanVsDalton]

Didn't think it was that easy. Was a lovely flick played into him, but by the time he got to the ball he had very little of the goal to aim for with VDS closing the space.

Rooney's a thug. Half wished James had of chinned him cold.

[seanfhear]

Didn't think it was that easy. Was a lovely flick played into him, but by the time he got to the ball he had very little of the goal to aim for with VDS closing the space.

Rooney's a thug. Half wished James had of chinned him cold.Nasty and cowardly elbow from Rooney. Did James tell rooney that he should have played for Ireland or something:D

[paul_oshea]

HAHA i was thinking the same seanfhear. rooney surely will get suspended for 3 games or something surely? or will he....

[Stuttgart88]

Not sure. The ref took action at the time which means retrospective intervention isn't an option. I think.

[tetsujin1979]

according to football365, it depends on the referee's report - http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6783758,00.html

The only obvious way round this for Clattenburg when he sends in his official match report would be to state he saw the clash, but not the elbow.

Even then, the FA would be within their rights to ask exactly why he gave the free-kick considering, without the elbow incident, McCarthy had moved towards Rooney rather than the other way round.

If Clattenburg says he saw the entire clash fully, Rooney will escape sanction, although a three-match ban could see him miss this week's Premier League games with Chelsea and Liverpool, plus the FA Cup sixth-round tie against either Arsenal or Leyton Orient.

[shakermaker1982]

Ben Thatcher got done that time he took out Mendes. However St Stevie G escaped punishment after trying to take out Welbeck so impossible to say which way FA will sway.

[shakermaker1982]

I have to say it was a disgusting thing Rooney did and fair play to McCarthy for not rolling around. I hope McCarthy was waiting for that coward in the tunnel at HT. See how much of a big man he is when he's face to face.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Zero chance Rooney will get done for that elbow, different rules apply for Man U, refs and authorities in England are totally intimidated by Ferguson.

[Charlie Darwin]

The rules as they stand say he can't be done for it. It would only be "different rules apply" if he was sanctioned like Thatcher was.

[Drumcondra 69er]

The rules as they stand say he can't be done for it. It would only be "different rules apply" if he was sanctioned like Thatcher was.

Jermaine Beckford got booked playing for Leeds a couple of year ago for elbowing David Forde and then got a subsequent 3 match ban despite the foul being called at the time. Ref then changed his story and claimed he didn't see the elbow after studying video evidence. No difference in the Rooney situation other then the fact he plays for Man U.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/match-centre/Leeds-2-0-Millwall-Match-winner-Jermaine-Beckford-lucky-to-escape-the-elbow-article40393.html

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Leeds-star-Jermaine-Beckford-accepts-violent-conduct-ban-article32369.html

[Charlie Darwin]

Right but one example doesn't make a rule.

[tetsujin1979]

Right but one example doesn't make a rule.
no, it makes a precedent

[cornflakes]

What is everyone talking about?
Rooney didn't do anything wrong, its fairly obvious McCarthy head-butted his arm
English players play hard but fair, lion hearts the lot of em

[shakermaker1982]

Zero chance Rooney will get done for that elbow, different rules apply for Man U, refs and authorities in England are totally intimidated by Ferguson.

What like Evra getting a 4 game ban after getting attacked by the Chelsea sprinkler man?

Gary Neville kissing the Utd badge in front of Liverpool fans? Fined. Fowler gets off scott free for acting the clown in front of Utd supporters.

Scholes & Rooney get sent off in Friendly games during pre season (2006) and their bans are extended to start of PL season. Gerrard and Mellor = The FA let them off.

Ferdinand got a 4 game ban for elbowing a Hull player a few seasons back.

[tetsujin1979]

just like Gary Neville at Stoke and West Brom, Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic at Aston Villa, and Rafael at Blackpool.

[shakermaker1982]

just like Gary Neville at Stoke and West Brom, Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic at Aston Villa, and Rafael at Blackpool.

Decisions go for and against every team. To say different rules apply to Man Utd is wrong.

Rooney should have been sent off and the FA should ban him.

[paul_oshea]

I read this morning it all comes down to the ref writing "i saw it all at the time".if he doesn't write that or doesn't write anything other than a yellow card then he can be done.

[Charlie Darwin]

no, it makes a precedent
Well it was never in doubt that the FA could charge him. They just hide behind the "referee's decision is final" defence out of some misguided belief that a slippery slope would ensue otherwise. The point is that this happens dozens of times every season - usually dangerous tackles that were given yellows instead of reds, though Gerrard's elbow at Sunderland is a direct precedent - and the FA is happy to let it go provided nobody complains too loud.

In any case, it's now looking very likely that Rooney will be singled out for special treatment an charged precisely because he is a Manchester United player and there is huge pressure being put on the FA because of it. Ferguson's moronic comments probably contributed.

[Charlie Darwin]

OK nevermind, he got off. Ridiculous decision.

[geysir]

I didn't see it as a deliberate elbow. No doubt that McCarthy verged over into Rooney's path so Rooney could have had no intention to do McCarthy.
Not at all similar to a wound up Roy when he elbowed McAteer.

Much ado over small incidents as usual with things in the epl.

[Stuttgart88]

Don't agree. He could easily have just shoulder barged him. Instead he struck out with his elbow in what was a very deliberate move, albeit spontaneous.

[geysir]

Recent studies conclude that spontaneous and deliberate don't mix.
Either/or, my learned friend.
The ref saw it clear enough and didn't he give a free out?

Not enough in it for any retrospective action, imo.

[paul_oshea]

So the refs always get it right and can't be questioned?

Imho he knew exactly where is elbow was,where it was going and more importantly where Mccarthy was.

[Stuttgart88]

By spontaneous I mean he gave it little thought but made the decision very quickly. A bit like stamping on the Portuguese guy's goolies in Germany. Premeditated for some time, no? Deliberate, yes. The actions of a thug? Yes.

An England star shoots a guy and another elbows a guy, both escape disciplining. Yet Ryan Babel gets a fine for Tweeting!

[Charlie Darwin]

Rooney has always had that element of nastiness in his game. McCarthy obviously tried to block him but Rooney's reaction was completely disproportionate. Much like Seamus Coleman, he seems to have an awful lot of luck on his side.

[Noelys Guitar]

Should have been a straight Red card and the ref clearly saw what happened and bottled it. Gerrard's blatant dive yesterday looking for a peno and no yellow card. Warren Barton (to his credit) had a right go at the two commentators covering the United match for playing down the incident or choosing to ignore it.

[geysir]

If I was to draw a comparison, the one that comes to my mind is Keane v McAteer.
That was a deliberate act of thuggery, red card, 3 game ban and heavy fine.
That act by Keane defines deliberate intent to commit an act of thuggery, cowardly coming in behind the back of an unaware McAteer and striking him full on the side of the face with his elbow.
This incident by Rooney pales by comparison, unworthy of retrospective action, in my oho (objective honest opinion).

[SwanVsDalton]

Disagree. If he can be banned, he should be. A thuggish elbow, no matter the scale, is totally unacceptable. Rooney, and Utd, should feel the consequences.

[tetsujin1979]

The FA have set a precedent here, that for any elbow to the head, a free kick is a sufficient response from the official

[Fixer82]

anyone got a link to the incident?

[TrapAPony]

anyone got a link to the incident?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPzQ9Y-oziY

[osarusan]

On the incident itself, it looks to me that Rooney deliberately made contact with McCarthy's head. That, to me, is a red card offence. I'm not sure how much force there was, but I'd say it was more than what DJ Campbell got sent off for.

Mark Clattenburg's already shaky reputation has been damaged by this. Either he really did see it, and thought it warranted only a free kick, in which case his decision-making is hardly trustworthy, or he kind of saw what he assumed to be a jostle and, having seen it on TV, is unwilling to allow any retrospective action to be taken / accept that action should be taken.

[tricky_colour]

I didn't see it as a deliberate elbow. No doubt that McCarthy verged over into Rooney's path so Rooney could have had no intention to do McCarthy.
Not at all similar to a wound up Roy when he elbowed McAteer.

Much ado over small incidents as usual with things in the epl.

I was thinking something similar to that at one point, but whether McCarthy veered into his path or
not, if you raise your arm to hit someone in the head you are off, that is the rule, written or unwritten.
However there is no point in crying over spilt milk, the incident has passed now. McCarthy didn't
seem to want to make a big issue out of it.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah, respect to him for not milking it, even though if he had Rooney probably would have got his just punishment.

[Stuttgart88]

Nor did the Wolves guy that DJ Campbell had a go at. Proper order & good to see. Many "hard men" would have gone down writhing in agony - including some from teams that I support no doubt.

So Rooney elbows a guy, Gerrard dives and Cole shoots someone. No action taken against any of them. Yet as soon as a foreigner does any of that stuff...

Anyway, McCarthy definitely moved to block him but the funny thing was the height differential. Shortarse Rooney had to really extend his elbow upwards to hit McC's head. If that still isn't enough to persuade people that it was deliberate and malicious I've no idea what could do it. Compare Rooney's action to the stuff that Scott Brown has got sent off for against Lafferty in the past and it's laughable (different countries, I know!).

[Fixer82]

If I was to draw a comparison, the one that comes to my mind is Keane v McAteer.
That was a deliberate act of thuggery, red card, 3 game ban and heavy fine.
That act by Keane defines deliberate intent to commit an act of thuggery, cowardly coming in behind the back of an unaware McAteer and striking him full on the side of the face with his elbow.
This incident by Rooney pales by comparison, unworthy of retrospective action, in my oho (objective honest opinion).

If I remember, Keane and McAteer were tuslling for the ball and Keane gave him a wee elbow. Handbags but still dangerous and a straight red no doubt.

This is Rooney coming from behind McCarthy and sprinting to elbow him

Glad Rooney doesn't play for us. He's a moron!

[Paddy Garcia]

Glad Rooney doesn't play for us. He's a moron!

Yeah, we have plenty of our own already.

[osarusan]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0301/1224291078493.html


Under Fifa regulations – the world governing body is opposed to the influence of video technology – the FA could only have acted had Clattenburg not spotted the incident or, having reviewed it, admitted that he made a mistake.

“Mark took the correct course of action with this incident,” claimed Riley, the general manager of Professional Game Match Officials. “Match officials are trained to prioritise following the ball, as that is where the greater majority of incidents are going to take place. However, we also do a lot of work around the area of peripheral vision, to be aware of anything that might happen off the ball.

“In this incident Mark was following play, but caught sight of two players coming together and he awarded a free-kick because he believed one player had impeded the other. We should be clear that Mark did nothing wrong in officiating this incident as he acted on what he saw on the pitch.”

The last paragraph really p****s me off. Clattenburg thought he saw a player impeding the other (the moving Rooney impeding the stationary McCarthy?) and gives a freekick. So he reviews it on replay, and even though he could admit he made a mistake and allow further action to be taken, he doesn't. Punsihing a player for deliberately hitting another player in the head is secondary to maintaining the 'integrity' of the referee.

[tricky_colour]

Yeah, respect to him for not milking it, even though if he had Rooney probably would have got his just punishment.

Yeah I just came across this blog, "Was Rooney saved by a lack of simulation"
http://www.epltalk.com/how-wayne-rooney-was-saved-by-james-mccarthys-lack-of-simulation-29631

I think the guy is quite right, there are far to many players nowadays who would have been rolling around on the floor
faking agony after that. Worse still you seem some doing the same when they have not even been touched.
Fair play to James for not making a meal of it, feigning injury is as low as it gets, seems to more prevalent with
some foreign players.

If Rooney had done that to Roy Keane in his day there would probably have been a bloodbath!!

I will just edit to add that if it had been Keane Rooney would have probably would have stayed well clear!

[Stuttgart88]

I think Riley is just saying that according to FA practices and procedures Clattenburg was right. I think that's fair enough. The FA must look at its practices and procedures though. That's where the failure is.

[osarusan]

The FA must look at its practices and procedures though. That's where the failure is.

I don't think so to be honest. I don't think anybody disputes that Clattenburg made what he thought was the appropriate decicion for what he believed he saw at the time.

But under Fifa regulations, by which the FA abides (according to the article I linked to), Clattenburg had the opportunity to review the incident and admit that his on-field decision had been wrong. In other words, Fifa has a procedure which allows referees to review their decisions. I think most people would agree that his on-field decision was wrong - most people feel that a free kick was not enough of a punishment. But Clattenburg has decided he didn't get it wrong.

[Noelys Guitar]

Sky and BBC/ITV are as much to blame as anyone. The two covering the united game for Sky with their inconclusive nonsense (remarkably the BBC text used the same inconclusive word). But the two covering the Livepool game topped that. Main commentator "Gerard anticipated a tackle that never came". No mention of the D word. Co-commentator backing up main commentator with something like "if there had been a tackle that was a peno".

[irishultra]

Yeah I just came across this blog, "Was Rooney saved by a lack of simulation"
http://www.epltalk.com/how-wayne-rooney-was-saved-by-james-mccarthys-lack-of-simulation-29631

I think the guy is quite right, there are far to many players nowadays who would have been rolling around on the floor
faking agony after that. Worse still you seem some doing the same when they have not even been touched.
Fair play to James for not making a meal of it, feigning injury is as low as it gets, seems to more prevalent with
some foreign players.

If Rooney had done that to Roy Keane in his day there would probably have been a bloodbath!!

I will just edit to add that if it had been Keane Rooney would have probably would have stayed well clear!

fair play 2 him 4 defying the stereotype so

[Sullivinho]

Fair play to James for not making a meal of it


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-0RS0blGOs

[paul_oshea]

@Irishultra British is not foreign in England.nor to many would Irish be.hence why British and then Irish is always asked as nationality beside eachother on any forms over here.

[Fixer82]

I think Riley is just saying that according to FA practices and procedures Clattenburg was right. I think that's fair enough. The FA must look at its practices and procedures though. That's where the failure is.

Yes i remember Andy O'Brien getting sent off V Israel after getting punched in the face from Israeli keeper. He pushed him off him and got a straight red.

The word from FIFA afterwards (and before a big game if I remember) was that the referee's report is final. Ridiculous when there are replays there in plain view