Danny Guthrie: The FA show yet more inconsistancies and lack of respect

Once again the footballing community is left scratching its head over an unexpected resolution that seemed to have an obviously different outcome.

Spitting in another player's face or breaking another player's leg, what would you think would be the incident worthy of an intervention from the Football Association?

West Ham v Arsenal 1999

The Barclays Premiership match between Arsenal and West Ham in October of 1999, Patrick Viera was sent off for a second yellow card offence.

As Viera walked from the pitch, he lost his temper and pushed Neil Ruddock in the face before being seen to spit at the West Ham player.

Despite Patrick Viera's automatic ban for the sending off, the Football Association deemed it necessary to increase his ban to six matches as well as adding an extra 30,000 pounds to his fine.

Hull v Newcastle 2008

Fast forward to September of 2008 and the Premiership game between Hull and Newcastle.

Newcastle are two one down and the game is in its 90th minute, a Hull player is retaining possesion near the corner flag and trying to run down the clock.

Newcastle player, Danny Guthrie appear's to try and win possesion with a tackle that clearly doesnt attempt to get the ball.

He instead takes a very wild swing that connects high on the opposition players leg.

The tackle resulted in a broken leg, meaning the Hull player will be out for between six weeks and three months.

The Football Association's Decision

Despite having the power to alter the suspension, the Football Association has decided not to increase the punishment for the Newcastle player and believe that the initial red card and three match suspension are adequate enough.

During the first few weeks of the new ''Respect the Game'' scheme initiated by the Football Association, its hard to believe that they have decided not to make an example of Danny Guthrie, despite his complete lack of respect for the rules of the game and his fellow player's on the pitch.

The Football Association claim they cannot extend Guthrie’s suspension because they have no powers to increase an automatic suspension for a violent conduct red card.

They have been quoted as saying, “The only circumstances in which we could take any further action would be to issue an additional charge against a player.”

But despite this addmission to an obvious way of punishing Guthrie, they will not further the Newcastle player's punishment past three matches, despite the length that the Hull player will be sidelined with injury.

Cowardice from the Football Association?

Many people are baffled as to why The Football Association can not bring their own charges against the Newcastle player and make an example of his actions and prove there is no place for such obvious violent behaviour in the sport.

But once again the only thing they seemed to have proven is their inconsistencies and double standards when applying the rules of the game.

Respect is the new key word of the season.

Surely its about time the Football Association started showing it.