Should the FA Have Power to Award Players Suspensions After Only Being Booked?

After a weekend in the Premier League when several high-profile refereeing decisions took centre stage, it will surprise few viewers to see that Sunderland's Wes Brown is likely to have his red card rescinded.

Ben Smith of BBC Sport reports that Brown's dismissal has been appealed against by his club, while the ref who awarded the bizarre red card, Kevin Friend, has not been handed a top-flight fixture for either of the next two game weeks.

While the FA now have the power to overturn such red cards which are deemed to have been wrongly handed out, there is no such provision for altering perceived wrong calls in the opposite direction; that is, upgrading players who were only booked to be sent off after the fact, and in turn, suspended.

Two players escaped such action this weekend according to plenty of reports.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Everton's Kevin Mirallas were both yellow-carded by referees, while both were deemed lucky to remain on the pitch by many.

"

Suarez put Mirallas out of last season's Goodison derby.....Mirallas has just tried to repay the debt

— John Bradley (@JBcommentator) November 23, 2013"

"

An absolutely shocking challenge from Mirallas sends Suarez to the floor. The result is a yellow card. All fans were expecting a red.

— RadioCity News/Sport (@RadioCityNews) November 23, 2013"

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Controversy in the Merseyside derby as Mirallas escapes with just a yellow card despite his reckless challenge on Suarez.

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 23, 2013"

"

Wes Brown sent off for nothing,Rooney yellow carded for assault.Whats going on Mike Riley? Wouldn't like to see his phone bill next week.

— Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) November 24, 2013"

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GOAL.... Rooney puts United ahead with a deflected effort, but should he have been sent off earlier in the game?? #United #Cardiff

— Setanta Sports (@SetantaSports) November 24, 2013"

"

Pure unadulterated stupidity from Rooney. Should have been sent off.

— Segun Agbede (@SegunThePundit) November 24, 2013"

Saturday's Merseyside derby saw Mirallas go studs-up on Luis Suarez of Liverpool.

A day later, Rooney kicked out at Jordan Mutch of Cardiff City.

@feintzebra

There was also an incident involving Gary Medel and Marouane Fellaini in the Cardiff-United match, but that incident was reviewed by a video panel postgame, who decided that no further action was necessary in this instance.

The FA have the power to look at these clashes when no game official has noticed it happening, and they also have the power, as in the case of Wes Brown, to remove red cards wrongly handed out.

So why the reluctance on their part to get involved in wrong decisions which don't punish offending players enough during the game?

A terrible tackle could have lasting consequences for the player on the receiving end, while reckless or over-aggressive behaviour which goes unpunished can only encourage others to try and get away with it too.

It is understandable that the FA are reluctant to remove too much power and decision-making from the referees; that is, after all, why they are in place.

But overruling their decisions to send players off already revokes the referee and corrects his mistakes. Surely there is no justification not to do it in reverse? If mistakes are made, regardless of whether too harsh or too lenient, the governing body should have the capability to correct them—or else leave them alone entirely.

While Brown finds himself about to be cleared of wrongdoing, he still missed a portion of the game after being sent off.

Rooney and Mirallas—and plenty of others before them, it must be pointed out—will face absolutely no sanction for their crimes for which, by any usual standards of the game, they should be sitting out three matches.

It's about time the FA's policies were standardised to correct mistakes at both ends of the spectrum, instead of taking the rather hypocritical stance of only overruling when a referee errs by over-sanctioning offenders.

Follow @karlmatchett