FIFA to Handle Tevez Dispute (FA Rant)

After West Ham refused to grant permission to Tevez to undergo a medical, United look set to finally approach the soccer governing body, FIFA, to settle the long over-drawn dispute.

The Telegraph
Times

Personally I'm glad to have FIFA intervene instead of the Premier League or the FA. Both the latter organisations have their collective heads so far up their arses that nothing sweet smelling ever comes out from them. At least a negative ruling by FIFA wouldn't leave such a foul taste in the mouth.....not that I'm expecting a one.

If the FA was called to settle this dispute, I'm wouldn't be surprised that we'd end up being charged for illegal tapping or some other ludicrous charge. According to the FA, there's always one rule for the others, and an entirely different set for us. Off the top of my head, I can think of the number of times the FA has screwed us.

1 - Eric Cantona 95. We all remember that infamous kung-fu kick. The club had taken steps to suspend Cantona for the entire season, but the FA decided to further the punishment well into the next season as well.

2 - Beckham 98. After England's exit in the world cup, the FA left Beckham out to dry, while the entire nation bayed for his blood. The FA did absolutely nothing to stand by their man and seemed in fact glad that there was someone taking the rap. Only United and its legion of fans stood by Beckham.

3 - FA Cup 2000. We were 'forced' to represent England/Europe in the World Club competition and as a result had to relinquish the defence of the FA Cup. Of course the backlash was tremendous and it put the club in a horrible light. And what did the FA do? That's right, they did nothing, as usual, and let us out to defend outselves, even though it was entirely their fault. They had put us in a no win situation and were perhaps gloating over doing one over us when we did poorly in the World Club competition.

4 - Philip Neville 2000. I'm really beginning to enjoy myself here dissing the FA. Similar to the Beckham situation 2 years back, a United player was perceived to ruin mighty England's chances in the Euro. If one recalls, Philip Neville was the one who brought down the Romanian player in the penalty box, and the resultant penalty sent England packing in the group stages. Again the nation went after a United player for the second major tournament in a row and the FA was once again glad to have a scapegoat on their hands.

5 - Rio's drug test. Let's get this one straight, Rio misses a drug test and gets a 9 month suspension, while Christian Negouai of Manchester City commits a similar offense, gets a paltry fine after an FA hearing. To make matters worse, Negouai's identity was not revealed until much later after much prodding. One rule for United, another for everyone else. The FA seems to delight in taking every opportunity to screw us over. Bastards!

6 - Rooney/Ronaldo 06. We can all remember what happened in the last World Cup, when Rooney got sent off. The nation went after both United players and we could have very well lost Ronaldo in the beginning of the season, had it not been for Ferguson. I know I'm stretching it a little here, but since FA's been the boogieman for so long, I'm going to just conveniently put the blame on them.

7 - Rooney/Scholes 06. United took part in the Ajax tournament and had Rooney and Scholes sent off in the 2nd game of the 3 game tourney. It was a friendly and for some inexplicable reason, the FA decided to ban our players for 3 games at the start of the season. This was so freaking wrong on so many levels. First of all, Liverpool suffered the same fate in the same tourney in 04, having 2 players sent off. They didn't even get a warning, let alone a hefty suspension. See, one rule for United, one for everyone else. Secondly, even if the suspensions were to be carried out, our players had already served one in the tourney itself. It should have been a 2 game suspension instead of 3. Of course there is no reasoning with the high and mighty FA. If they are out to screw you, you bend over and lather it with soap.

And this is only off the top of my head. If I actually take time off to google, I'm pretty damn sure there's plenty of complain about. I'm half certain the FA screwed us over the Ruud and Keown incident as well.

I'm sorry this got off to a tangent from the main story, but it sure feels therapeutic to get it off my chest.

Edit:
I just realised I did something similar last year and it's almost identical!