Referee Mark Clattenburg on the spot again after Mario Balotelli elbow

03 March 2011 12:09
Referee Mark Clattenburg was embroiled in another elbow controversy on Wednesday night.[LNB]Clattenburg booked Mario Balotelli for felling Aston Villa's Chris Herd in Manchester City's 3-0 FA Cup win.[LNB]But the clash appeared far less serious than Wayne Rooney's challenge on Wigan's James McCarthy on Saturday, for which the referee failed to show a card.[LNB]Read Ian Ladyman's report on Manchester City's progress past Aston Villa to an FA Cup quarter-final meeting with Reading The clash: City striker Balotelli (right) and Villa's Herd come together at Eastlands[LNB]Clattenburg was faced with anotherbig decision in the second half of City's fifth-round success. WithVilla players and coaching staff on their feet imploring him to takeaction, the official issued just a yellow card. [LNB]Villa manager Gerard Houllier said: 'It was right in front of me. It looked harsh at the time but I have seen it again and I don't think he did it on purpose.' [LNB]City manager Roberto Mancini replaced Balotelli immediately after the second-half incident, no doubt concerned that the striker would add to the nine cautions he has already picked up this season.[LNB] Flashpoint: Balotelli (45) sees yellow from Clattenburg (fourth left) after the challenge on Herd (floored)[LNB] City will face Reading at Eastlandsin the next round of the competition after an easy win that was securedby goals from Yaya Toure, Balotelli and David Silva. [LNB]Houllier faces criticism for leavingout first-team players such as Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, but hesaid: 'If I had to do it again, I would.' [LNB] Escape: Clattenburg declined to send off Rooney after a challenge on Wigan's McCarthy last Saturday[LNB]Mancini admitted he took a gamble by using Balotelli as a lone striker and said: 'I took a risk to play only Mario up front," said Mancini, who axed both Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko.[LNB]'But Mario played well and scored a fantastic goal. I was very pleased with the overall performance. This game was very important for us.'[LNB] Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 0: Yaya and Balotelli bullets shoot down VillansFA CUP LIVE: Arsenal 5 Leyton Orient 0 and Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 0 - as it happenedSpineless! FA fail to punish Rooney and Chelsea let Cole off after shooting an internMancini wants to see more from inconsistent Super Mario[LNB]  Explore more:People: James McCarthy, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Stewart Downing, Roberto Mancini, David Silva, Gerard Houllier, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez Places: Manchester

Source: Daily_Mail