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CL Debate: What Was Worse – Eduardo’s Deliberate Dive Or Alberto Gilardino’s Accidental Brush To The Face?
UEFA have banned Fiorentina’s Alberto Gilardino for two Champions League games following his controversial red card against Lyon last week, a decision that astounds Carlo Garganese…
23-Sep-2009 9:00:26 PM
Cast your minds back a couple of weeks to the furore caused by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body’s decision to suspend Arsenal striker Eduardo for two games after he had ‘deceived the referee’ when diving to win a penalty in the Champions League second leg playoff victory over Celtic at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger labelled the investigation as a “disgrace” and a “witch-hunt”, while Professional Footballers Association chief executive Gordon Taylor stopped just short of suggesting that there was a conspiracy against the English Premier League due to “jealousy” of their clubs repeatedly reaching the latter stages of Europe’s top cup competition in recent seasons.
"When you are successful there is always an element of jealousy," said Taylor.
"It is inevitable people are going to look at England and worry that we have a monopoly on money, and success may be coming from a few clubs. As a result we have got to be almost whiter than white.
“I wouldn't want Arsenal or Eduardo to be branded as that [cheats]. I don't think it is particularly fair on a club which has a reputation for playing good football or a lad who has shown a great deal of courage in coming back from injury."
As it would evolve, Eduardo did not miss Arsenal’s opening Champions League group stage fixtures against Standard Liege and Olympiacos as the UEFA Appeals Body last Monday moved to overturn his two-match suspension. It would prove to be the most astonishing turnaround, comparable with – well – Arsenal’s 3-2 comeback win over Standard two days later in which Eduardo scored the winner.
Eduardo before his Celtic dive
Some of you will be wondering what Eduardo has to do with Alberto Gilardino’s case, aside from the fact that they are both strikers who have a tendency to fall over in the box.
The answer to your question, if you have just woken up, is that the Arsenal star has escaped punishment despite being clearly guilty, while the Fiorentina hitman has been penalized despite being clearly innocent.
UEFA have hit Gilardino with a two-game ban following his red card against Lyon last week. The 27-year-old was sent off in first half stoppages after he was wrongly adjudged to have elbowed Jeremy Toulalan in the face. Replays clearly showed that Gila had accidentally brushed the Frenchman as he naturally jumped with his arms slightly winged out for balance.
Gilardino has had his throat slit by UEFA
Referees have made mistakes over these kinds of incidents in the past – but the fact that UEFA would uphold the official’s decision despite the evidence is nothing short of shameful. Especially when you compare the Gilardino and Eduardo controversies.
Fiorentina’s chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League were already slim, this punishment has as good as killed off their hopes. Not only did the red card cost them against Lyon – at a time when the score was 0-0 and Fiorentina were on top – but the Viola will now have to do without their main goalscorer for the clashes against Liverpool and Debrecen.
The Tuscan-based club have been treated pretty appallingly by the authorities in recent times. Adrian Mutu has been completely out of sorts since his appalling Chelsea fine, while many of you will remember the Champions League clash in Lyon during last year’s group stage when the French outfit played on and scored a goal at 0-2 while a Fiorentina defender lay injured in his own six-yard box. Lyon would go on to earn a point and eventually qualify for the next round at the Italian side’s expense.
Unfortunately for Fiorentina, this proves once again how the big powers in Europe are afforded all the favours by the rule-makers.
It would be interesting to hear the view of Arsene Wenger, Gordon Taylor and the wider English media on whether Gilardino deserves to be banned for two games. Of course, they will stay silent because it’s all a “jealous witch-hunt”.
Arry: "Arsene, what do you think of Gila's elbow?"
Wenger: "I didn't see it."
What are your views on this topic? Do you agree that Alberto Gilardino’s suspension is unfair? Especially when compared to Eduardo’s non-punishment? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
Carlo Garganese, Goal.com
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger labelled the investigation as a “disgrace” and a “witch-hunt”, while Professional Footballers Association chief executive Gordon Taylor stopped just short of suggesting that there was a conspiracy against the English Premier League due to “jealousy” of their clubs repeatedly reaching the latter stages of Europe’s top cup competition in recent seasons.
"When you are successful there is always an element of jealousy," said Taylor.
"It is inevitable people are going to look at England and worry that we have a monopoly on money, and success may be coming from a few clubs. As a result we have got to be almost whiter than white.
“I wouldn't want Arsenal or Eduardo to be branded as that [cheats]. I don't think it is particularly fair on a club which has a reputation for playing good football or a lad who has shown a great deal of courage in coming back from injury."
As it would evolve, Eduardo did not miss Arsenal’s opening Champions League group stage fixtures against Standard Liege and Olympiacos as the UEFA Appeals Body last Monday moved to overturn his two-match suspension. It would prove to be the most astonishing turnaround, comparable with – well – Arsenal’s 3-2 comeback win over Standard two days later in which Eduardo scored the winner.
Eduardo before his Celtic dive
Some of you will be wondering what Eduardo has to do with Alberto Gilardino’s case, aside from the fact that they are both strikers who have a tendency to fall over in the box.
The answer to your question, if you have just woken up, is that the Arsenal star has escaped punishment despite being clearly guilty, while the Fiorentina hitman has been penalized despite being clearly innocent.
UEFA have hit Gilardino with a two-game ban following his red card against Lyon last week. The 27-year-old was sent off in first half stoppages after he was wrongly adjudged to have elbowed Jeremy Toulalan in the face. Replays clearly showed that Gila had accidentally brushed the Frenchman as he naturally jumped with his arms slightly winged out for balance.
Gilardino has had his throat slit by UEFA
Referees have made mistakes over these kinds of incidents in the past – but the fact that UEFA would uphold the official’s decision despite the evidence is nothing short of shameful. Especially when you compare the Gilardino and Eduardo controversies.
Fiorentina’s chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League were already slim, this punishment has as good as killed off their hopes. Not only did the red card cost them against Lyon – at a time when the score was 0-0 and Fiorentina were on top – but the Viola will now have to do without their main goalscorer for the clashes against Liverpool and Debrecen.
The Tuscan-based club have been treated pretty appallingly by the authorities in recent times. Adrian Mutu has been completely out of sorts since his appalling Chelsea fine, while many of you will remember the Champions League clash in Lyon during last year’s group stage when the French outfit played on and scored a goal at 0-2 while a Fiorentina defender lay injured in his own six-yard box. Lyon would go on to earn a point and eventually qualify for the next round at the Italian side’s expense.
Unfortunately for Fiorentina, this proves once again how the big powers in Europe are afforded all the favours by the rule-makers.
It would be interesting to hear the view of Arsene Wenger, Gordon Taylor and the wider English media on whether Gilardino deserves to be banned for two games. Of course, they will stay silent because it’s all a “jealous witch-hunt”.
Arry: "Arsene, what do you think of Gila's elbow?"
Wenger: "I didn't see it."
What are your views on this topic? Do you agree that Alberto Gilardino’s suspension is unfair? Especially when compared to Eduardo’s non-punishment? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
Carlo Garganese, Goal.com
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