P&J: Dons and Wright face anxious wait

[mizer]

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/793546

 

calderwood asks forward to ‘channel his aggression’ as sfa confirm they will examine footage

 

By Paul Third

 

Published: 19/08/2008

 

Aberdeen will fight any attempt by the Scottish Football Association to discipline striker Tommy Wright.

 

The SFA confirmed yesterday it will study footage of the incident which showed the new Dons forward going head to head with Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan.

 

Wright escaped punishment following his collision with the Well defender but was booked by referee Charlie Richmond for a foul on Stevie Hammell seconds later.

 

A spokeswoman for the SFA said: “If the footage shows any acts of misconduct, that were perhaps missed by the match officials, we will deal with it.

 

“The footage would have to be clear-cut – but there have been incidences in the past when players were banned on the strength of video evidence.â€

 

Television replays of the incident, in which Wright is alleged to have butted Craigan, appear inconclusive and Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood insists he will not ask the player to curtail his aggression on the field.

 

He said: “Tommy is a young lad but he has a responsibility to the club, to his team-mates and to himself. This game is hard enough when it is 11 against 11, but I don’t want to take the physical, enthusiastic side of Tommy’s game away from him.

 

“It was his first game, we had a great support there and the lad was desperate to do well.

 

“He came on and he did really well. He was very unlucky with his header as the goalkeeper made a great save, he made a great tackle after running across the Motherwell defence, then he got involved in some silly things for which he was booked.

 

“I’ve had a word with Tommy and told him he has to channel his aggression.

 

“If he misses games his bank balance will take a knock and he will miss games. He is here to play and he has to give himself a chance.â€

 

While Wright waits to hear if he will be free to face Rangers at Pittodrie on Saturday, Dons vice-captain Zander Diamond has been ruled out of the match with a thigh injury.

 

Diamond, who lasted just 20 minutes of the game on Saturday, is not expected to play again until after the international break on September 13.

 

Calderwood said: “Zander felt a tightness in his thigh and didn’t want to take any risks. Luckily enough it is not his ankle, but it is still a blow to be without him.

 

“He came off at the right time and hasn’t made the injury any worse. Hopefully, he should be back following the international break.

 

“The most important thing was that Zander didn’t try to play through the pain which would have made it worse. It’s still frustrating, though, especially with Rangers coming up on Saturday as he is a strong presence physically.â€

[glasgowdon]

What about when Barry the ned grabbed Maguire by the throat or when he had a clash with Miller last year?

 

[Superstar Tradesman]

This is a fucking joke - surely?!

 

The ref or linesman never saw anything, McGhee said he wouldn't be following it up and if it wasn't for the papers going on about the "headbutt that never connected" then why are they even wasting their time looking at it?

 

Maybe they should spend their time looking at footage of stuff that did actually happen and never got punished.

[Guest Robo]

Anyone got an e-mail for the SFA aswell as a few incidents that have happened in the past..........they will receive an e-mail stating this. I am not busy at work just now, so I'm more than willing to do this.

[???]

Total nothing story, all the press have done is called the SFA and asked if they'll use video evidence.  The SFA have repsonded saying that they'll use video evidence for any/all incidents like this.

[BrownyBrown]

Total nothing story, all the press have done is called the SFA and asked if they'll use video evidence.  The SFA have repsonded saying that they'll use video evidence for any/all incidents like this.

 

Something like that I'd imagine.

 

They'd also have to convene a disciplinary committee to review the incident within the next 3 days before Wright could miss the Rangers game. Highly unlikely, but I wouldn't put it past the SFA!

[Superstar Tradesman]

Yet again the local rag who should be behind the club are sticking it to them.

[???]

Yet again the local rag who should be behind the club are sticking it to them.

 

Your shocked at a newspaper creating a story?

[tom_widdows]

I can only presume that said evidence will also see Craigan banned for punching wright in the stomach just before the said alleged headbutt

[CtS]

And a retrospective yellow card for Broadfoot after his diving antics.