Source: Daily_Mail
We've gone soft! Bruce hits out as FA ban Turner for four matches over elbow
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce claimed the Barclays Premier League has gone soft after his defender Michael Turner was accused of violent conduct by the FA - but then had to bite his tongue when the ban was extended by a further match.[LNB]Turner must now serve a four-match ban starting on Boxing Day as punishmentfor the club appealing against his red card for elbowing Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry in Sunderland's 4-3 defeat at the weekend.[LNB] Rough treatment: Michael Turner flies in on Gareth Barry[LNB]Bruce's side have the worst disciplinary record in the Premier League but the manager, who spent nine seasons playing at centre half for Manchester United from 1987, leapt to Turner's defence and insisted Sunderland are not a dirty side.[LNB]'How do you think my face is the way it is?' he said. 'It is part and parcel of the game. If you catch someone across the face with an elbow now it seems to be a sending-off but it's something that's happened for years.[LNB]'We all want to take away the intentional elbow but when you're running forward and jumping, it's impossible not to get leverage with your arms. Michael Turner has caught Gareth Barry, there's no question about that, but it could quite easily have been Gareth catching Michael and I would not have complained. They're both looking at the ball.[LNB]'We've had a few red cards, but anyone's who's seen us will know that we're not a dirty team. Far from it.'[LNB] Agony: Turner reacts to his dismissal at Eastlands[LNB]Bruce has also been asked to explain his post-match comments in thewake of the centre half's dismissal after he described referee AndreMarriner's decision as 'a joke'.[LNB]The Sunderland boss said the penalty awarded for Nyron Nosworthy's foul on Craig Bellamy was 'even worse'.[LNB]Sunderland sent a claim to the FA's independent regulatory commission after they insisted the standard, three-match suspension for violent conduct against Turner was excessive.[LNB]That plan has backfired spectacularly and a statement from the FA said: 'Turner claimed that the standard punishment is clearly excessive, but this was rejected by the commission and the defender will now receive a four-match ban - increased by one game as the commission felt the claim had no prospect of success - starting with immediate effect.[LNB]Making a point: But boss Steve Bruce has lost Turner for four matches[LNB]'The FA have also written to Sunderland manager Steve Bruce seeking his observations following media comments made immediately after the match at the City of Manchester Stadium.'[LNB]The type of claim lodged by the 26-year-old centre half is normally reserved for exceptional circumstances rather than the use of an arm and this is understood to have contributed to the FA's decision.[LNB]Bruce, who held Sunderland's training session on the beach at South Shields yesterday because all the training-ground pitches were frozen, was forced to maintain a dignified silence last night rather than face any further censure from the FA.[LNB]Instead, a club spokesperson said: 'We are very disappointed with the decision on this occasion.'[LNB]The loss of Turner for almost a month has increased the need for Bruce to find defensive cover.[LNB]But his interest in Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has cooled until the summer, as he does not expect Harry Redknapp to consider doing any business because his own defensive options are so limited at the moment.[LNB]A swap deal with Anton Ferdinand might be considered, but only when the former West Ham defender is fit and he is expected to be out for another fortnight at least with an ankle injury.[LNB] Sunderland appeal against Michael Turner's red card at Manchester City Graham Poll: The referee's a cheater? What a load of rubbishMan City 4 Sunderland 3: A fitting way to mark the end of Mark Hughes' reignSUNDERLAND FC
