Source: Daily_Mail
Graham Poll: Joey Barton and Mario Balotelli lucky to escape
Joey Barton shouting vulgarities and gesturing at Fernando Torres; Mario Balotelli raging at everyone. [LNB]This weekend's events make me hope that Christmas does indeed bring in the season of goodwill to all men. But I don't expect it to. [LNB] Yellow peril: Mario Balotelli is booked by referee Phil Dowd at Upton Park[LNB] More from Graham Poll... Graham Poll: I was scarred by Chelsea aggro... but Spurs were brilliant!10/12/10 Graham Poll: Chelsea woes compounded but they didn't blame ref05/12/10 Graham Poll: Victim of an Old Firm coin throwing.. but finally Dallas is beaten28/11/10 Graham Poll: Why referees must put up a fight - just like they have in Scotland25/11/10 Graham Poll: No way Jose! Madrid have previous when it comes to bookings24/11/10 Graham Poll: Arsene right to blast ref! Arsenal should have had penalty23/11/10 Graham Poll: Refs thrive under scrutiny in Premier League's house of horrors22/11/10 Graham Poll: Modric and Bentley didn't dive and shouldn't have been booked14/11/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEWe were warned that Manchester City's £24m signing Balotelli was a wild man, who even Jose Mourinho failed to tame at Inter Milan. [LNB]On Saturday at West Ham, there was further evidence of his petulant side which we have already seen with his red card against West Bromwich Albion earlier this season. [LNB]After he felt he had been fouled he made clearly dissenting gestures towards the referee Phil Dowd. At the next stoppage in play, Dowd asked Balotelli to come to him which the Italian refused to do. [LNB]The situation again raises the question of how many times a referee should ask a player to come to him and whether a player has to go to the referee. [LNB]Referees are advised to 'meet players halfway' when requesting their presence, often going to a neutral area. If a player refuses then the referee would be within his rights to caution him, or issue the second caution if he was calling the player to him to issue a caution. [LNB]So Balotelli can consider himself lucky - Mancini thought so and substituted him. [LNB] Meanwhile, up at St James' Park it was Barton - another renowned bad boy - who disgraced himself once more Newcastle's 3-1 win over Liverpool, which was shown live well before the watershed. [LNB]After seemingly being unaware that David Ngog was injured, Barton surged forward before being made aware of his opponent's plight. [LNB]A number of Liverpool players made their feelings clear to Barton who initially reacted well, indicating that he did not know that Ngog was injured. Most Liverpool players accepted his excuse but Fernando Torres, who really shouldn't have got involved, pushed the point and tipped Barton over the edge. [LNB] Taunts: Newcastle's Joey Barton was involved in a spat with Liverpool's Fernando Torres[LNB]His reaction was to make extremely obscene gestures to Torres, one that is certainly no suitable to repeat here. If referee Lee Mason had seen the gestures or heard the comments he should have sent Barton off as the offence of abuse applies whoever it is directed at. [LNB]Will the FA act or will they be wary of charging Barton for the second time this season? They used TV replays to charge him after he punched Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen out of the view of referee Mike Jones last month. [LNB]With these examples of poor self discipline one can't help but wonder how many more excuses people can make for the persistent offenders. Goodwill to all men, indeed.[LNB]Good week for... Mark Clattenburg And a good week for... Mike Riley [LNB]Clattenburg got all big decisions right in a tough match between Bolton and Blackburn. He rightly only cautioned Zat Knight when he brought Jason Roberts down with Gary Cahill providing defensive cover. He was also right to give a second yellow to Mark Davies for leading with his arm in a challenge with Phil Jones. Well done Clatts.[LNB]Riley saw virtually a controversy-free weekend for the first time this season. Mind you there is still the small matter of Manchester United v Arsenal tonight. The fixture that has produced so many talking points over the years and it'd be no surprise to have another fiery clash at Old Trafford. Riley has wisely gone for World No 1 ref Howard Webb. I wish him well.[LNB] City boss Mancini facing another problem as Balotelli comes to the boilNewcastle 3 Liverpool 1: Bubbly Barton closes Hughton chapter [LNB][LNB] Explore more:People: Zat Knight, David Ngog, Gary Cahill, Mike Riley, Fernando Torres, Joey Barton, Jose Mourinho, Jason Roberts Places: Newcastle, Liverpool
