Source: SKY_Sports
Hughes disappointed with FA
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has admitted that he was disappointed with the Football Association's decision to ban Shaun Wright-Phillips for three games.[LNB] The England winger retaliated after Stoke's Rory Delap kicked the ball at him after the whistle had blown in the Potters' recent 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium.[LNB]Referee Mark Atkinson did not see the 27-year-old lash out but, after studying television replays after the game, he stated that had he seen the incident he would have sent the former Chelsea man off.[LNB]The result means that Hughes will be without Wright-Phillips for the next three league games against Portsmouth, Liverpool and West Ham, all of which are away from home.[LNB]"We admitted at the time that there was a reaction but there were reasons why Shaun reacted like he did," he told the club's official website.[LNB]"We hoped that there would have been a little bit of leeway where the decision makers were concerned, but unfortunately I think the FA has to go by the letter of the law.[LNB]"They will support the referee's report, so unfortunately we will miss Shaun for the same length of time that Stoke will be without Rory Delap.[LNB]Harsh"That does not seem correct in my view, but that's where we are. There will always be grey areas open to debate, but I just think Shaun's case should have been judged on its own merits.[LNB]"Shaun has been really hard done by because of the severity of the punishment.[LNB]"It's a blow because he has been playing really well, he has such a positive impact, and his work rate is such that he always causes a threat to teams.[LNB]"But there is nothing we can do now, we just have to get on with it."[LNB]Meanwhile, City have cut the prices of season tickets for the 2009/10 season in a bid to help fans through the current economic crisis.[LNB]On average the season tickets have been cut by seven per cent and fans will be given an extra three months to come up with the money.[LNB]"Our season card-holders are the cornerstone of this club and since our arriving here, we have listened to their feedback and their concerns on a great range of issues," chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said.[LNB]"By pushing back the date for season-card renewals we hope to make some small difference to the supporters who follow the team every week.[LNB]"We have also sought to respond to fans' concerns on pricing and hope that the price freezes in some areas and discount in most areas of the ground will be welcomed."[LNB]
