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Date:Tuesday September 12 2006
Time: 8:38PM
UK time is: 17:26:43
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A Date For Thatcher's Diary
The F.A have banned Ben Thatcher for eight matches of which he has served two of. He can consider himself lucky that the punishment wasn`t harsher.
'At an Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing, Manchester City's Ben Thatcher was suspended for eight matches starting on Saturday August 26, with an additional suspended ban of 15 matches,' said an FA statement.
'The suspended sanction may be activated in full or in part if Thatcher is found guilty of another serious proved case under FA Rules within the next two years.'
The player refused to comment but his barrister spoke on the players behalf;
'Mr Thatcher deeply regrets the incident,' said Thatcher's barrister Rupert Bowers.
'He accepted the punishment from his club; and that penalty has been increased by the FA.
'Mr Thatcher similarly accepts the FA's decision without question. Today he again expresses his apologies to all concerned; he now wishes to serve his suspension, put the incident behind him and continue with his career.'
Most football fans realise that Thatcher`s real punishment will occur when City visit Portsmouth, February 10th by the way!
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Your Comments
Can't play can he!?!?!
lmatthews
If City have any sense he won't play in the return game.
storagematt
Yes that would theoretically make it 9. It doesn't make sense to play him at Fratton, let alone take him anywhere near Portsmouth at all. He probably will never ever do it again cos if he does he is probably facing a career ban.
pompeygray
If he can make the trip to Fratton there is no way he'll be selected, Pearce wouldn't subject him to it, it would be asking for trouble. Although he did a terrible thing and I can't condone it at all, and won't it is now done and can't be changed so we move on...
pompeyrug
what career is that then wwwf? I absolutely agree with the pompeyrugster, whilst i think a ban passed the pompey game would have been prudent, perhapse a lack of match practice will keep him out anyway. I think the 15 match suspension is a good thing, provided our righteous indignation is just that then we should applaud the judgement. I would have thought every ref will be looking at him during the rest of the season. can you imagine Poll ,Reney, Mesias or worse Mr David "but refs like John boy" Walton coming up against Thatcher. I suspect he'll get canned, appeal and then serve half of his suspended before the seasons up
russellm
What he did was very wrong and I am a Pedro fan there is no reason why he shouldn't play in the return game, sure boo him but that about as bad as it will get. He will have served his time so let it be. Football fans have very short memories by nature, just look at a certain winker, he has gone from most wanted back to God like status in a couple of months and matches.
TeddyLyon
He deserves anything that comes his way, that is to say suspension, fines, bad publicity etc. It must never include violence of any kind off the field. If Pompey players target him it will be to our detriment too. Too wrongs do not make a right. Thatcher cannot make amends for what he did, it does however give him the opportunity to make him a more complete player, whilst still keeping the aggression and fighting spirit that is needed at this level. Yes in time we will forgive him and probably not forget. His punishment will continue from within.
pompeygray
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