Wednesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Mario Balotelli not charged for Song clash on day of farce at the FA
FA: Retrospective action normally for off-the-ball incidents• Shaun Derry red card for foul on Ashley Young upheld
Manchester City's Mario Balotelli, right, speaks to Arsenal's Alex Song after his challenge. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Mario Balotelli escaped a nine-match ban for his dangerous challenge on Arsenal's Alex Song on a farcical day for the Football Association's disciplinary procedures, which caused disbelief within the game and left many elite match officials disillusioned at the disquiet directed at their fraternity.
It is understood that neither Martin Atkinson, the referee for Sunday's game which City's lost 1-0, nor his assistants will be stood down for any future match because of the incident.
The FA cited Fifa regulations for its inability to take retrospective action against Balotelli for his knee-high tackle on Song. But the upholding of the red card for Queens Park Rangers' Shaun Derry despite Ashley Young clearly diving during the London club's 2-0 defeat at Manchester United earlier the same afternoon, and the correct decision to charge Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic for violent conduct for an incident involving Wigan Athletic's Shaun Maloney the previous day left the governing body open to accusations of inconsistency. It will also do little to calm tensions towards officials or the disciplinary process following a weekend in which a number of managers have spoken out in frustration.
The coming together of Balotelli and Song was seen by Atkinson and the nearest assistant referee. But they were partially unsighted so the serious nature of the incident was missed by them, the other assistant and the fourth official. This meant the episode was included in the official match report, and so Fifa rules that state any in-game issue cannot be reofficiated later tied the FA's hands.
While this procedure is endorsed by all Premier League clubs, it is understood that Atkinson and many of his elite match official colleagues are unhappy at the criticism aimed at them.
The statement from the FA said: "Retrospective action in relation to the incident involving Mario Balotelli of Manchester City and Alex Song of Arsenal, which occurred in the 20th minute of Sunday's game, will not be taken. Where at least one of the officials has seen the coming together of players retrospective action is not taken, regardless of whether they have seen the full extent of the challenge.
"Retrospective action can only be taken in scenarios where none of the match officials saw the players coming together. The normal scenarios in which retrospective action is taken are for 'off the ball' incidents. Retrospective action was introduced for off the ball incidents where there was no contest for possession and could not be deemed to be re-refereeing an incident. In agreement with Fifa, this is how 'not seen' incidents are dealt with retrospectively in England. It is a policy that is agreed with all football stakeholders."
Balotelli has been sent off twice this season, including for the two yellow cards he later received against Arsenal, and been found guilty of a further red card offence retrospectively. So any eventual sanction for the studs-high challenge on Song would have been his fourth red card, and increased his tariff to a nine-game ban. While he will now miss three matches and be available for City's final three games of the season, Derry misses QPR's meeting with Swansea City on Wednesday.
"Queens Park Rangers midfielder Shaun Derry will serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect after his claim of wrongful dismissal was rejected by a regulatory commission today," the FA's statement said.
But, with there being no explanation regarding why Derry's sending-off was not rescinded despite Young going down under minimal contact, there will be further outrage at QPR. Phillip Beard, the club's CEO, said after the game that Young "could partner diver Tom Daley at the Olympic Games".
There was further confusion when the FA announced that after reviewing video evidence Ivanovic would be charged for apparently aiming a punch at Maloney, which was not seen by the match officials, but was caught on video, during his side's 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Replays showed both Chelsea goals in the 2-1 win should have been disallowed for offside and Mike Riley, the head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, apologised for this. Roberto Martínez, the Wigan manager, said: "He just said he understands that at the level of refereeing in this league, they should get that call right. I think that is a very honourable way to face mistakes. We are all capable of making mistakes and it is about how you react to them."
Dave Bryan, the assistant referee who missed the offsides, was stood down from Tuesday night's game between Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool.

Manchester City's manager Roberto Mancini says title race is not over
In football it's never finished, says Mancini• Italian says Chelsea caught Manchester United last year
Roberto Mancini is refusing to give up Manchester City's title challenge. The Italian pointed to how Chelsea closed the gap to Manchester United from nine points with six games remaining of last season to three points when they played Sir Alex Ferguson's side three matches from the end of that campaign.
City are currently eight points behind United and are due to play them three matches from the close of the season. As the champions travel to Wigan Athletic on Wednesdaythis evening City host West Bromwich Albion and Mancini said: "It's not easy, but we need to think positively. I'm proud of all my players for what we did until today. We now need to continue to win to get the maximum points we can. Then we will see.
"I will never say we can't win the league if there is still a chance. That is not my life, never. Also last year, if you remember, six games to the end Chelsea were six or seven points [behind]. But they went to Manchester three games to the end three points behind. We are professional, we need to finish well and we need to win the games we have left."
Mancini may be without Yaya Touré who is a doubt after limping out of the 1-0 loss at Arsenal on Sunday with the midfielder not training on Tuesday. While David Silva, who missed that match with a knee problem, did train, Mancini added: "It's [the title] not over. In football it's never finished. For this reason, I believe always. But we did a fantastic season and we need to finish well."
United could clinch their 20th championship at the Etihad Stadium during that derby but Mancini said of this prospect: "I don't know this. I just know today we have 15 points more than we had at this stage last year.
"So I can say we did well. Now it's clearly difficult for us to win the title. But we hope they can lose three or four points before the derby and after that we'll see. I repeat, six games to the end. 18 points. Never say never."
Rio Ferdinand, who has recovered well from the back injuries that have plagued him during recent seasons, stated that he has no plans for retirement. "I am not thinking about retirement. I am trying to play as long as I can. I have another year after this [on his contract] and I want to do another 10," the 33-year-old joked. "But whenever it is, I would want to go out on a high note."

Robin van Persie is planning to snub a £200,000 a week offer from Manchester City and stay with Arsenal. The Times

OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is monitoring Fulham's in-form United States striker Clint Dempsey, 29, who has a year left on his contract at Craven Cottage. Daily Telegraph

French starlet Paul Pogba, 19, is no closer to signing a new contract with Manchester United with his agent Mino Raiola reportedly lining up a move to Juventus.

AC Milan's Italian striker Stephan El Shaarawy, 19, is wanted by Arsenal and could be allowed out on loan next season. Metro

Swansea are closing on a £6m move for Ivorian striker Lacina Traore, 21. The forward, who has been compared to Emmanuel Adebayor and was previously tracked by Arsenal, is desperate to leave Russian club Kuban Krasnodar. Daily Mirror

Real Madrid want Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, 28, after the Serbian's outstanding campaign.

Branislav Ivanovic has scored three goals in his last four games Daily Mirror

Celtic are interested in Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon. The 29-year-old Scotland international is out of contract in the summer. The Sun

Frank Lampard reckons Chelsea lack the killer instinct after a 1-1 draw against Fulham hampered their hopes of a Champions League slot. The Sun

Anthony Pilkington says Norwich are now gunning for Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool after the promoted East Anglians beat Champions League-chasing Tottenham on Monday. Norwich Evening News

Faltering Tottenham have called a team meeting to try to save their season ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea. Daily Express

Michael Carrick has hailed the contribution of Paul Scholes to Manchester United's title charge after the veteran midfielder decided to come out of retirement. Manchester Evening News

West Brom have slashed season ticket prices across the board by £50 for next season to try to entice new support to the Hawthorns.

Full Story: Birmingham Evening Mail

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, 23, will be fitted with a special heart device to aid his attempts to return to football. Daily Mirror

Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou believes the Blues can still finish above Arsenal. The Sun

Wolves manager Terry Connor insists he dropped Roger Johnson for footballing reasons at Stoke despite the defender's row with Wayne Hennessey during the 3-2 defeat by Bolton. Express and Star

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign has refused a donation of £1,000 from comedian Alan Davies. The Arsenal fan had criticised Liverpool's refusal to play on the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Daily Mail

Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell will miss Euro 2012 after suffering yet another hamstring problem. Daily Mirror

Newcastle's recipe for success in the Premier League is cooking a special Senegalese dish called Yassa for strikers Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba. Daily Telegraph

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway was warned to stop swearing during Monday's 1-1 draw with Barnsley following a complaint from a supporter. Daily Mirror

Ipswich - nicknamed 'The Tractor Boys' - have launched their new kit on a farm. Metro

[feedthegreek]

inconsistency = bent, but very consistent for the scummmmm.