Harry Redknapp has hit out at Ben Thatcher for his 'horror' challenge on Portmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes.

The Man City defender seemed to hit Mendes with a forearm at the start of the second half, leaving the Portuguese midfielder needing hospital treatment.

 

"Off the field, you could not meet a nicer boy," said Redknapp of Thatcher. "Unfortunately, on the pitch he is capable of doing things like that.

 

"It was an horrendous challenge and totally out of order."

 

Mendes needed oxygen treatment on the side of the pitch after skidding into advertising hoardings.

 

"As soon as I saw Thatcher running into the corner, I knew what was coming. I would have bet my life on it," Redknapp added.

 

How can that not be a sending off? What do you have to do, kill someone?

 

Pompey midfielder Matt Taylor

"Pedro is in hospital and won't be coming back with us tonight.

 

"He suffered some kind of fit or seizure. We had to give him oxygen and he wasn't in a great way when he left the stadium, but we will see how he is tomorrow."

 

Thatcher was only booked by referee Dermot Gallagher for the challenge but could be hit by a Football Association charge when video evidence is reviewed.

 

Pompey midfielder Matt Taylor was incensed by the tackle.

 

"How can that not be a sending-off? What do you have to do, kill someone?" he said.

 

"The FA have to look at it. It is there for all to see. I like Ben as a guy but that was wrong."

 

City boss Stuart Pearce said he had not seen replays of the offence, but agreed that Thatcher had fouled his opponent.

 

"I saw Ben running into the corner at 110 miles per hour," said Pearce.

 

"I want the players to play at a high tempo near the ball and it looks like the tackle was a bit mis-timed."

 

Pearce also said Thatcher had inquired about Mendes' health after the game.

 

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Thatcher should be arrested for this... basically common assult... no place in football, no place anywhere....

 

No he shouldnt, he just ran into him at a bad angle. Granted it was more NFL than football just one of those things.

FA to look at Thatcher challenge

 

 

The Football Association has confirmed it is investigating Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher's challenge on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes.

Thatcher received a yellow card for his challenge which left Mendes needing oxygen at the pitchside.

 

Mendes later suffered a seizure en route to hospital. An FA spokesman told BBC Sport: "We're looking at whether this may be viewed as an exceptional case as rules make it difficult to upgrade a yellow card."

 

Thatcher appeared to catch Mendes with his forearm, sending the Portuguese midfielder into advertising hoardings. The FA will wait to see the contents of referee Dermot Gallagher's match report before deciding its next course of action.

 

Had Gallagher dismissed Thatcher for violent conduct, FA rules allow it to impose further punishment on top of the three-match ban the offence carries. Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp called for the FA to take action against Thatcher.

 

The incident was captured by television cameras but video evidence cannot be used to retrospectively upgrade a yellow card. A Fifa spokesman confirmed to BBC sport: "It is one of the fundamental rules of the game that the referee's decision is final. Therefore, if it is his decision that an offence warrants a yellow card, that cannot be changed later by somebody else."

 

Mendes was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where his conditions was described as "comfortable".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5281686.stm

As much as I hate the skates, that was just horrid, Thatcher is a grade a twat and I hope they charge him. How the fuck was that not a red card?

Actually seeing it again, that was quite an elbow.

The police have been called in

Yeah, that was a horrible elbow to the head wasn't it.

 

Thatcher needs a ban and a fine for that.

Poor Mendes. Hope he can recover soon...

Thatcher dropped & charged by FA

 

A Manchester City defender has been suspended by his club and charged by the Football Association following his challenge on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes.

Ben Thatcher must answer a charge of serious foul play by 12 September.

 

And a statement on City's website said: "Ben Thatcher has been suspended from first-team action.

 

"This is pending the results of the club's internal investigation into the incident involving Pedro Mendes during the game with Portsmouth on Wednesday."

 

The statement continued: "The player will miss tomorrow's home fixture with Arsenal. Ben Thatcher fully agrees with this decision."

 

Thatcher was shown only a yellow card after knocking Mendes out with his arm.

 

But although referees are not allowed to retrospectively upgrade yellow cards, the FA said "the incident is being considered as an exceptional case".

 

"The FA contends that the challenge was sufficiently serious that had Thatcher been sent off, an additional sanction would have been merited."

 

Greater Manchester Police have also confirmed it had received complaints which it is "duty bound" to investigate.

 

Mendes needed oxygen at the pitchside and was later taken to hospital after Thatcher's arm propelled the Portuguese midfielder into advertising hoardings.

 

Manchester City have confirmed that Thatcher has written to Mendes to apologise for his actions.

 

Thatcher added: "Immediately after the game I tried to find out how Pedro was. I have written to him today apologising for what happened."

 

A statement on City's website said: "The club does not condone such action and the matter has been dealt with internally by manager Stuart Pearce."

 

Greater Manchester Police will be talking to both clubs, Mendes and Thatcher.

 

A GMP statement added: "From those talks, GMP will decide whether any further action will be taken.

 

"There is no official criminal investigation but GMP is duty bound to investigate the complaints."

 

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp was incensed by the challenge and urged the FA to take retrospective action against Thatcher.

 

Redknapp said: "The FA have to do something, it is there for all to see.

 

"I do not want to see anyone suspended but how could that possibly not be a red card?

 

"What do you have to do to get a red, kill someone?"

 

Mendes travelled back to Portsmouth after overnight observation and a club statement said: "He will continue to be under medical and neurological supervision during the forthcoming week."

 

Meanwhile the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association has warned that Thatcher has left himself open to legal proceedings from Mendes.

 

Gordon Taylor said: "Players have a duty, which is a legal duty as well.

 

"In the eyes of the courts the referee has deemed it a foul and if it is considered reckless the player could have to pay a sum of money.

 

"Any contact with an elbow to the head has got be eradicated. It's not just football, it's the law of the land."

 

Specialist sports lawyer Mel Stein echoed Taylor's thoughts.

 

Stein said: "The injured player can take civil action for carelessness or recklessness.

 

"It's a bit like driving around Trafalgar Square at 100 miles per hour. You may not mean to cause harm, but are likely to do it."

 

Meanwhile, the PFA have offered to help Thatcher with any disciplinary problems he may have.

 

Taylor added: "The PFA has a duty to protect our members. We want to eradicate any reckless play that would endanger a fellow professional.

 

"I've known Ben since his time at Millwall. He's a robust defender who epitomises the physical side of football ,but that doesn't mean that someone like that is reckless."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5281686.stm

More importantly... Mendes is ok. :) I actually met him after the Portsmouth game against Blackburn the other week (I was on holiday on the Isle of Wight and went to the game) and he's a thoroughly nice man and a pleasure to talk to.

 

He's handled himself really well since the incident happened also.

Ban thatcher for life. Want to see him drummed out of the game? Wear the T-shirt with pride. http://www.tshirts365.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=2146

Nice t-shirt. :P

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