tomogull wrote:
If it can be proven beyond all doubt that Labadie bit Ollie Banks, then he should have the book thrown at him. However, neither the ref nor the linesman spotted anything otherwise he would have been red-carded. Presumably, all that will be in the ref's report is that Banks complained that he had been bitten. There is your grainy video clip which, frankly, proves nothing. Admittedly the club may have clearer video evidence. Chesterfield FC did not wish to take the issue further, preferring to leave it to the Torquay management to deal with which I hope and believe they would. In my opinion, that is where the issue should have stopped. It is only because a two-bit reporter working for a one-bit newspaper thought he had the scoop of the year that the F.A. have got involved. The evidence, as we understand it, is so weak that the FA is blowing it out of all proportion. And before you jump down my throat, no - I don't for one moment think biting can be excused in any way.
I'd just like to add, Spirerite, that your previous postings have been fair but to suggest the manager condones Labadie's behaviour by supporting him at the hearing is unfair and uncalled for. Any manager would support his players unless there was damning evidence against them. There isn't in this case.
What the referee or assistant referee saw is irrelevant. Time and time again, retrospective video evidence has condemned players for offences the referee missed, going right back to Paul Davis breaking Glenn Cockerill's jaw. The ref missed it, the TV cameras didn't and Davis was subject to a lengthy ban.
In the video clip, Labadie's head can clearly be seen at the body of the Chesterfield player at a similar height to a bite mark that appears on the Chesterfield player. I would imagine it is unlikely that the Chesterfield player is going to go on twitter and make it up that he has been bitten, when he hasn't.
To be fair, it is to the Chesterfield player and club's credit, that they are not the ones pursuing this. The blindly partial on here, would be urging TUFC to take action if the same had happened to our player.
However, I think there is enough evidence to suggest Labadie did bite the player and whilst I hope he didn't and I hope the charge comes to nothing, I will be amazed if this doesn't result in a lengthy ban for Labadie.