Thatcher accepts eight-match FA ban

Ben Thatcher will be sidelined until the end of October after deciding to accept the eight-match ban handed down by the Football Association for his vicious assault on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes.

In a clear signal of zero tolerance towards on-pitch violence, the FA have not only hit Thatcher with a lengthy suspension, but also placed down a firm marker for the 30-year-old's future conduct by handing out a further 15-match ban, which will be suspended for a period of two years.

While the FA have acknowledged Manchester City's decision to act swiftly in pushing through their own sanctions by back-dating Thatcher's ban to 26 August - the date the club's own four-match suspension came into effect - they have ignored Stuart Pearce's hope they would see The Blues' punishment as sufficient.

It means Thatcher must sit out five more Premiership games, plus next week's Carling Cup tie with Chesterfield at Saltergate.

Should City beat their League One opponents, Thatcher would be available for any third-round tie on either October 24 or 25 before resuming his league career against Middlesbrough on October 30.

'Mr Thatcher deeply regrets the incident,' said Thatcher's barrister Rupert Bowers.
'He accepted the punishment from his club; and that penalty has been increased by the FA today.

'Mr Thatcher similarly accepts the FA's decision without question. Today he again expresses his apologies to all concerned; he now wishes to serve his suspension, put the incident behind him and continue with his career.'

Although he was only booked at the time by referee Dermot Gallagher, the severity of Thatcher's challenge on Mendes was quickly apparent.

TV pundit Alan Hansen described it as 'absolutely horrific', while Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp declared Thatcher should be put out of the game for good if there was any repeat of an incident which left Mendes concussed, in hospital and requiring neurological tests before being allowed to resume his career last weekend.

'At an Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing, Manchester City's Ben Thatcher was suspended for eight matches starting on Saturday August 26, with an additional suspended ban of 15 matches,' said an FA statement.

'The suspended sanction may be activated in full or in part if Thatcher is found guilty of another serious proved case under FA Rules within the next two years.'

Pearce revealed Thatcher was 'ashen-faced' when he was summoned to a meeting at City's training ground on 24 August, the day after the Portsmouth game.

Following further discussions between Pearce, City chairman John Wardle and chief executive Alistair Mackintosh, Thatcher was also fined four weeks wages, about £48,000.

The FA sentence contains no financial penalty but the stigma of the incident may be difficult to shake off for a player who found himself in trouble six years ago when he elbowed Nicky Summerbee during a Wimbledon game against Portsmouth.

City have however emerged with their reputation intact, noting the FA's willingness to incorporate their punishment within the overall ban.

'We note the findings of the disciplinary committee and are pleased the FA have taken our own disciplinary action into account,' said a club spokesman.