Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has warned that Premier League footballers now have carte blanche to do what they want if the referee doesn’t see it, after Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was not charged with violent conduct after stamping on Norwich’s Ricky van Wolfswinkel in the match on Saturday.
Mourinho said:
“If he’s not suspended, the message is clear: the players can do what they want if the referee doesn’t see. The message is normally that, if the FA defends football, he’d have to be suspended.
“Of course, I would be disappointed if he is not punished. If he is not, it has to be the same for everyone: if the referee doesn’t see, a player can do whatever he wants.
“It doesn’t matter about cameras or others seeing, I can do whatever I want. If they make the rule that action can be taken if a referee has missed something, they have to apply that rule.”
Toure escaped punishment yesterday from The FA, but the Football Association did charge Craig Bellamy with violent conduct for a similar incident where he punched Swansea midfielder Jonathan de Guzman.
Mourinho’s words will add fuel to the fire that Manchester City are getting off easy by referees (and The FA) this season.
Here are today’s world soccer news headlines:
Premier League
Jose Mourinho says Yaya Toure decision could cause trouble — Sky Sports
Roy Keane accuses Manchester United of cutting corners in transfer market — The Guardian
Manchester City’s courting of 12-year-old Kevin Ackermann raises eyebrows at his club IFK Gothenburg — The Mail
Fulham game against Liverpool to go ahead after Tube strike is suspended — The Guardian
Jonjo Shelvey missing but Michu in the squad for Stoke trip — The Mirror
Olivier Giroud admits trying to talk Hugo Lloris into joining Arsenal — The Guardian
Wilfried Zaha denies taking swipe at Manchester United manager David Moyes — The Telegraph
Crystal Palace and Stoke both in the running to sign USA international Fabian Johnson — The Mirror
Crystal Palace – A team on the rise under Tony Pulis — Who Scored
Garry Monk claims Stoke City match is bigger than Cardiff City derby — Wales Online
Tottenham line up new contract offer for Jan Vertonghen to ward off European giants — Evening Standard
Tributes to Everton FC pioneer even Dixie Dean called ‘the Master’ — Liverpool Echo
Mourinho says deals for Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani were scuppered by Financial Fair Play — Evening Standard
The secret gang of three that let Toure off the hook and charged Bellamy — The Mail
Manchester United season ticket cost frozen for 2014/15 — BBC Sport
Time almost up for Clint Dempsey to make Fulham impact — Pro Soccer Talk
Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers awaits news on managerial contract — The Guardian
Newcastle United’s accounts may well be gleaming but are the Magpies living in a false economy? — Newcastle Chronicle
Bobby Moore themed Boleyn Ground development plans as West Ham & England legend to be centrepiece of plans — The Mirror
MLS
MLS fans have the lowest income of any major sports audience — The Atlantic
Portland Timbers announce new long-term stadium naming rights deal — Sports Illustrated
La Liga
Barca and Real Madrid face TV revenue caps under new Spanish Sports Law — Inside World Football
International soccer
Qatar introduces higher standards for welfare of World Cup migrant workers — The Guardian
Injury crisis make Australia recall for aging Tim Cahill a possibility — The Telegraph
World Cup 2014 arena inauguration postponed … again — The Guardian
Championship
Brian McDermott set for talks with prospective Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino — The Mail
Serie A
Milan set to leave San Siro and build own stadium — Yahoo
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Jose Mourinho Says Yaya Toure Decision Lets Players Do Anything They Want: Daily Soccer Report is a post from World Soccer Talk.