West Ham’s attempt to get Andy Carroll’s red card rescinded by threatening to take the football authorities to court ended in failure. Faced with the legal challenge, the matter was referred to independent arbitration, but it was ruled that the red card should stand. West Ham must pay the fees and expenses of the tribunal and the Football Association’s costs of £13,092.
West Ham’s attempt to get Andy Carroll’s red card rescinded by threatening to take the football authorities to court ended in failure. Faced with the legal challenge, the matter was referred to independent arbitration, but it was ruled that the red card should stand. West Ham must pay the fees and expenses of the tribunal and the Football Association’s costs of £13,092.
West Ham fans think that the original red card was unfair and manager Sam Allardyce has made a more criticism of top flight referees, saying that there are not enough of them. He thinks that they may have been ordered to issue more red cards. Whether or not that is the case, there is a great deal of inconsistency in decisions which referees never (or are not allowed to) explain publicly.
In this particular case, the commission made it clear that the FA needs to find ways of dealing with simulation and unsporting conduct and was damning of Chico Flores, the defender who clashed with Carroll at Upton Park.
West Ham’s actions emphasise how concerned clubs are about the financial implications of relegation from the Premier League, particularly so in West Ham’s case because of the eventual move to the Olympic Stadium. However, even some West Ham fans do not think that Carroll is the answer to their plight.