There were many controversial moments on Sunday, but in my opinion the worst that happened correlates to last season’s corresponding fixture. If the rules of the game allow a “challenge” like Vieira’s air-kick on Van Nistlerooy to warrant a dismissal then there must be some perfectly good explanation why Van Nistlerooy’s stamp on Ashley Cole went unpunished. Surely? Um, well let’s compare and contrast: Van Nislterooy made contact with Cole, Viera didn’t; Viera’s resulted from provocation, Van Nistlerooy was provoked by Cole being in the same vicinity; Vieira was sent off, Van Nistlerooy wasn’t.
This might seem like sour grapes, but I don’t consider it important just in the context of that portion of the match. Reports suggest the F.A. will investigate the incident. IF they do, then it will be unprecedented for there to be punishment handed out to Man Utd. Why? Because it’s as good as casting doubt of the validity of Man Utd’s victory.
Due to Van Nistlerooy being allowed to stay on the pitch he also got the chance to score a decisive penalty(shock horror! not at Old Trafford?) Were he to be banned (needs to be if there’s any consistancy), then it shows where the real struggle for power is in the Premiership. Not on the pitch but in the corridors of power. Time will tell if the F.A. will just sit by quietly and let Arsenal play there football in fair matches, or revert back to the tried-and-tested route of submitting to the money men at Utd and Fergie’s suspect temperament.
4 Responses to “Vieira 2003 v Van Nistlerooy 2004”
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October 25th, 2004 at 3:17 pm
You would have to think RVN will get done… he will get his due justice.
October 25th, 2004 at 3:25 pm
The ironically thing is : remember who said Arsenal could get away from murder prior to the match?
October 25th, 2004 at 3:50 pm
that challenge was horrific. Alan Hansen was horrified and every commentator in the land is asking for him to be banned for it
manyoo fans are yelling ‘CONSPIRACY’ and “it wasnt intentional” but these were the same people who yelled “INTENT, INTENT” on Vieira last season
October 25th, 2004 at 10:57 pm
My wife watched the penalty kick and RVN celebration afterwards. Even she was incensed by his “crying to God” pose he hammed after scoring.
“It’s not like he did anything that hard” she remarked.
I thought RVN was a jerk after the score.