Maybe things not as clear cut-if only FFP had any teeth http://www.theguardian.com/football...ball-league-financial-fair-play-investigation
Read that just before you posted it - that deal absolutely stinks. What with QPR being let off the hook and now this from Leicester, there really is little point to FFP. It only seems to penalise the clubs who can't pay their way out of it, making a mockery of its intended purpose. Might as well bin it and let clubs do whatever they want and take the gambles on promotion/administration.
The problem is the FL would probably need forensic accountants to prove half of this stuff. They have no investigatory body to do that work for them. And so far as I know there's nothing compelling the clubs to make it easy for them to catch them out. It's the same as with the Fit and Proper Persons Test. Everyone bemoans how ineffective it is, yet it's ineffective because it's so broad and it's so broad because frankly the FL can't be doing with long, protracted and ultimately expensive arguments over ethics which they're not guaranteed to win.
If true the FL can fine them but they can't enforce it while the foxes are in the prem. The PL can't do a thing and if some Manyoo or Citeh fan imagines UEFA are going to strip Leicester of a CL place over what happened in the Championship they are clutching at massive straws. There's not a chance as they'd still get to pay a fine instead and that can't be that huge either.
On a slightly different note, I see the BBC is reporting that tickets to Leicester's last home game are being offered for £15,000 a pair.
Leicester's season might well have been spoiled by one of their players diving. Such a crying shame, and so unlike them....
Plus the arm over Huth's shoulder stopping him from jumping a few minutes earlier, which wasn't given.
Leaving aside individual decisions, that was almost certainly the worst display of refereeing I've ever seen in the flesh. He never had control of the game, which wasn't helped by the fact that he could barely keep up with the frantic play especially in the first half. Vardy's first yellow was never a booking, Reid threw himself to the floor for their penalty much like Vardy had earlier and failed to penalise a blatant dive by Payet just moments after he sent Vardy off. And not giving Huth a penalty, just wow. Luckily we benefited from he final crap decision of the day. He turned the game into an absolute farce with plenty of decisions other than the big ones.
The minutiae of that game are discussed here http://www.wfcforums.com/showthread.php?57735-quot-Class-acts-quot
The only decision he got wrong was to award Leicester with a penalty in the last few seconds for yet another dive. You and Bournemouth must be the worst offending teams for cheating to get penalties in the country. So yet another beneficial decision going your way this season of which many have occurred. Vardy cheated so deserved his red card. Clear penalty to West Ham but a joke to give you one. You should be thanking the referee, not berating him. Glad to see cheats do not prosper though. Vardy has been charged by the FA. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36075748
Vardy's first yellow was soft, as there was minimal contact, although he did lunge in unnecessarily. Second yellow was spot on. You have to move past the fact that the first yellow was contentious. He didn't then get sent off for an accidental collision, Vardy's dive was blatant and he knew he was on a yellow when he cheated. I'm glad he was sent off for it, personally. I can see why their penalty was given and the one on Huth wasn't. Having your arms all over players happens in every penalty box (it is often 50-50), but when a player has a run on you and you pull him down, then that is more of an obvious foul to me. Your penalty at the end was one of the softest I have seen, and was verging, although not quite, on Knockhart territory. The ref was terrible for both teams, and couldn't keep up with play (sometimes I think he blew the whistle to have a break!). If that is the worse ref you can remember, then you've been extremely favoured by refs over the past decade, as I can think of at least 10 refs who would make this guy look world class.
The bit in bold is really important and a much overlooked thing when it comes to gormless pundits spouting forth their pearls of wisdom. A soft booking is an occupational hazard for a footballer. The sign of a top professional is how they subsequently manage their game and style of play to avoid a further yellow while still being as effective as possible. For a big bruising defender or a slow full back up against a tricky opposition winger it could be a problem. For a forward like Vardy it should be a doddle.
Now torn between wanting an unfashionable club to win it and finding it quite funny if Vardy gets a two match ban and Leicester collapse. Vardy is a thoroughly objectionable individual, every game I've ever seen him he's spent the whole game snarling at officials and other players. He didn't get anything for telling a linesman to ***** off when he had the temerity to flag him offside earlier in the season. Can't remember which one of our players it was but he clearly fouled someone at Filbert Street and then got in their face when they were on the floor and told them to ***** off too. Add to this him racially abusing a bloke in a casino and there would be a certain amount of satisfaction in seeing an unpleasant bloke's indiscipline cost his team the biggest prize in their history, ably assisted by girlfriend-strangler Danny Simpson already costing them 3 points at Arsenal. Quite like the rest of their team and Ranieri is an absolute gent so can't decide if I want them to do it or not now! Edit: not Filbert Street, I mean the Kung Po Stadium
Hmmmm, the thing is that you only think that because you don't like Leicester. I agree about Vardy, I'd hate for my team to play against him. If he gets a further ban then we can't complain.
His season may have finished depending on exactly what is said in the refs report. If he is reported for foul and abusive language it is a sending off offense and his punishment would be 1 match for two yellows and 3 for the other, Dean Windass got three reds in one game in Scotland, first for two yellows another for decent towards the ref and a third for ripping the corner flag out and throwing it.
I couldn't believe the Lesta fans chanted 'down with the Villa' at the West Ham fans instead of cheering their equaliser. Utter empty vessels the lot of them.
Vardy was unlucky with first yellow, but committed a much worse foul earlier, so lucky there and deserved on a totting up basis. I genuinely hope they win it but that was the clearest example of initiating contact and throwing yourself over I've ever seen, so hope they do it without the presence of rat face.
BBC Sport Leicester City: Now or never for Premier League title, says Claudio Ranieri Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri believes it is "now or never" for the Foxes to win the Premier League title. Leicester have enjoyed a remarkable campaign and are five points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table with four games remaining. They are already guaranteed a top-three finish and Champions League football next season, and Ranieri say his focus is now on winning the title. "It is this year or never more," he told BBC sports editor Dan Roan. "We achieved the Champions League - a great achievement for everyone but now we try to win the title with all our strength, all our heart, our soul, everything. We need eight points and we are champions, and we try to do this. I said to my players that now is the right moment to push." It is the first time Ranieri has admitted Leicester could win the title, having deflected questions on the subject since Christmas. Full article: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36112383
Hazard said on MOTD Chelsea hate Spurs and want Leicester to win the league.. Be interesting to compare the 2 performances of Chelsea when they face either side!
