Henry Winter: insanity plea was Gennaro Gattuso's only hope
In finding the right punishment for Gennaro Gattuso, Uefa has appropriately used its head to deal with AC Milan’s resident nutter.
Head to head: Gennaro Gattuso squares up to Henry Winter as Tottenham defeat AC Milan Photo: REUTERS
By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent 7:30AM GMT 22 Feb 2011
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A four-match suspension is fair. Gattuso’s butt on Tottenham coach Joe Jordan certainly merited a stiffer sanction than the three games in purdah Didier Drogba was eventually condemned to for verbally abusing the Norwegian referee, Tom Henning Ovrebo.
If Gattuso’s offence had occurred on the field of play, he would have been dismissed and banned for three games. Justice has prevailed although Uefa should also note that the referee, Stephane Lannoy, was weak in responding to the melee after the final whistle.
The problem with sporting authorities contemplating longer bans is that they are can be open to legal challenge on the grounds of being perceived as vindictive. Even if Uefa wanted to make an example of Gattuso, sending out a message that footballers are role models, it invariably has one eye on m’learned friends at the major clubs.
The only surprise is that Gattuso didn’t show Uefa’s beaks a photograph of the scary Jordan and plead insanity.
Argyle demise points to FA weakness
As Plymouth Argyle hurtle towards administration, a 10-point deduction and probably relegation to League Two, the authorities are reminded again of the need for owners to be fit, proper and financially sound.
The Football League, which is acutely aware of the problem, and the anaemic Football Association need stronger, more binding guarantees from prospective owners that their business plans are robust and achievable, including the presence of requisite funds to tide a club through troubled times.
The sooner the authorities, including the Government, make it easier for fans to run their clubs the better. Excellent organisations such as Supporters Direct need more backing.
Until then, fans like Argyle’s will endure the heartache without the real means to alleviate the suffering.
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