Crawley boss set for two months on the naughty step

Mark Hughes might feel hard done by over Emmanuel Adebayor’s recent three-game ban, but spare a thought for Conference side Crawley Town. Their manager Steve Evans has been slapped across the chops with a thirteen match penalty.

With the sort of speed and efficiency you’d expect from the FA, Evans has only just received a three-game ban for using ‘foul and abusive language’ in a match against Salisbury City last February. An additional 10-game suspended penalty was tacked on from a 12-match ban the manager previously sat out last season.

Blues found guilty of inducing breach of contract

Chelsea won’t be able to register any new players in the next two transfer windows as UEFA have found them guilty of inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens.

The 18-year-old winger joined Chelsea in 2007, and was the youth team top scorer and academy player of the year in 2007/08. He has been held “jointly and severally liable” in this case.

A statement on the FIFA website reads:

The French club had lodged a claim with FIFA seeking compensation for breach of contract from the player and requesting also sporting sanctions to be imposed on the player and the English club for breach of contract and inducement to breach of contract respectively.

The DRC found that the player had indeed breached a contract signed with the French club. Equally, the DRC deemed it to be established that the English club induced the player to such a breach.

Croat-Brazilian has outraged Scotland with his naughty play acting

Since the days of watching David Ginola throw himself around the pitch as if he only possessed limited command of his limbs, The Spoiler has held a disgust diving, and those who think they can get away with it.

Hence, we weren’t overly pleased last night to see Eduardo’s successful attempt at cheating Arsenal into a lead; something that changed a game in which Celtic were enjoying a reasonable amount of possession and control.

It seems that Celtic were equally displeased, with Massimo Donati calling for a two match ban following the simulation antics. SFA head honcho Gordon Smith has also waded into the argument, suggesting the Arsenal star should be punished:

‘[…] Last night [Eduardo] showed disrespect to the game by his actions in winning a penalty against Celtic.

‘Since I came into this post, I have raised the issue of simulation time and time again - both here in Scotland and with FIFA and UEFA.

‘I don’t think that I have received enough support in my efforts to eradicate what I believe to be one of the most serious threats to the integrity of football. Last night showed exactly why we must take this issue seriously.

The SFA have set a precedent for banning players for play acting in the case of former Hearts forward Saulius Mikoliunas, who missed two matches after he feigned being headbutted by an Aberdeen player in May.

So, should Eduardo be punished, or should we accept that diving is part of the modern game? Votes below, please…

Should UEFA make an example of misbehaving Blues?

While the world awaits UEFA’s verdict on Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack’s punishment, the media have been making their own suggestions.

Most agree that Le Drog should receive a minimum ban of six European games, which would see him miss the group stages of the Champions League 2009/10. Ex Premier League ref Jeff Winter concurs, adding that Michael Ballack should be ruled out for four games for his ridiculous non-contact pursuit of Tom Henning Øvrebø. His former colleague Graham Poll has also waded in, suggesting a slightly harsher eight to ten matches for the Ivorian and five to six for the German.

The Guardian’s Richard Williams, however, is calling for much more drastic action:

The withdrawal of their invitation to next season’s Champions League, taking tens of millions of pounds in revenue along with it, would soon persuade them to find a way of curbing their players’ excesses, and others would follow their example. If Chelsea’s players and managerial staff are reluctant to abandon the exaggerated sense of grievance instilled and fostered by Jose Mourinho’s regime, they will have to be taught a lesson.

So, should UEFA make an example of the Blues and give them the harshest punishment of all? Or is a brief player ban and a stern ticking off much more appropriate? Let us know your thoughts below…

Newcastle star still failing to learn from his mistakes

Less than two weeks ago, dangerous criminal Joey Barton had the audacity to tell the world that he wanted to become a role model for those who have also sunk to his depths. To his credit, he hasn’t beaten any colleagues or defenseless teenagers unconscious since making the statement, but he has riled up Sunderland fans with some unnecessary badge kissing, and embroiled himself in a racism complaint.

Should Aston Villa’s legal advisors find that Barton made racist gestures towards Gabriel Agbonlahor on Monday (A lip reading expert claims he shouted “F*ck your big lips” after slapping him in the face), then the FA and Newcastle must act. It is clear that Barton is unable to learn his mistakes or his punishments, and a man who is so inclined to vile behaviour shouldn’t be rewarded with £63,000 a week and a dream job.

Do you agree, or should we give the misunderstood lad his 456th second chance? Let us know with a comment below.