Shaun Wright-Phillips ban stands

Without surprise the FA upheld its violent conduct charge of Shaun Wright-Phillips and suspended him for three league matches.

The incident occurred against Stoke City on January 31 when he retaliated against Rory Delap and was "open and shut" the moment it was spotted. The referee Martin Atkinson did not see it at the time but the charge was levied once video replay of the event was reviewed.

Unfortunately the Citizens decided to appeal the charge effectively allowing him to play in this past weekends match against Middlesbrough although they surely must have known this charge would stand. If they had accepted the charge at the time they would have had him back for the West Ham United match but unfortunately now he will be missed.

Prior to the decision being handed down Mark Hughes said to the Manchester Evening News:

"There is an acknowledgement that Shaun retaliated but there were mitigating circumstances and we are hopeful maybe that the violent conduct charge will be lessened and that may be he will be out for just one game rather than the three that is possible."

While the manager is correct that it was a retaliation and the FA has a peculiar uneven hand of justice, this was the only decision they could make. It is of-course infuriating for City fans as it seems the scales of justice has a thumb on it, with the Citizens victimized. UEFA's inability to site Wayne Rooney for stomping Kasper Risgård or the FA turning a blind eye to Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa rash lunge at Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun does little for the game and raises the further question of how rulings are made. While repetitious, this however was the correct ruling and had to be made.