Everton have left some fans on the Grand Old Team disappointed, as the club has accepted the FA’s three-game ban for Andre Gomes’ tackle on Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Referee Lee Probert had missed the apparent stamp on Fulham’s striker during our Premier League encounter over the weekend, but TV footage highlighted the incident. The FA then reviewed such footage and felt our midfielder was guilty of violent conduct.
Some supporters, though, had taken to the club forum platform after the news initially broke that the Portuguese was to be charged with violent conduct, by suggesting the Toffees should appeal the decision just so the ban would have come into effect at a later point.
Had we managed to at least postpone the ban, Gomes would have been able to make a potential Goodison Park farewell against Manchester United this weekend, as his suspension will now take him to the final game of the season – away to Tottenham Hotspur.
The reason why certain supporters were keen to avoid Gomes missing our next three matches, and then returning in North London, is that Spurs are said to be the leading rival to our efforts to secure the 25-year-old’s services, and Daniel Levy could use our trip to North London as a final scouting mission before sanctioning the cheque.
The Champions League-chasing outfit’s interest is not the only thing supporters took note of, though, with others feeling the FA have singled us out and made an example of Gomes…
“Unfortunately it’s another case of the FA singling out a smaller club. Note the Niasse incident last season. They know we’re powerless to their decision. Thus, the game at the weekend could very well be his final game for us. If no deal has been agreed by then, I’d expect him to go back to Barcelona next week. Hope we can snap him up.” – Big Fat Sam (April 16, 09:01)
“Purely because we are the biggest side outside the big six we are made an example of once again. I could never see Pogba or De Bruyne getting a ban because of that.” – Parker NSNO (April 16, 09:22)
“We should appeal, even if it just means he can play against Utd” – f.t.r.s (April 16, 09:26)
“Deffo, would mean he gets to play one last game at Goodison as well if we didn’t sign him on a perm. Swerve letting him play the last game against Spurs where he would no doubt have a blinder and they want to sign him even more!” – EvertonArntWe (April 16, 10:24)
“If we aren’t going to sign him, appeal and appeal again and make sure he’s given a hefty over-the-top ban for the Premier League.” – Big Fat Sam (April 16, 10:43)
“Said as I watched it live he’d get the book thrown at him and sure enough, he will. Hope we appeal and he plays against United as that’s probably the game we need him most. On the matter of ‘bias’ and us being targeted, there’s a simple solution. If the FA are going to continue to make an example of us, we just need to be better and not give them the chance to. It’s frustrating but at the end of the day football is now a product they need to sell worldwide. They can’t be having the Top 6 missing key players for big games. That’s why they turn a blind eye and always will.” – Butler_Boy (April 16, 11:07)
“Definitely should lash an appeal in, even if we suspect it would be deemed frivolous. We need to turn up and beat United to get them down before their match with City and this would also mean that Gomes would be banned for that match at Spurs, denying them the chance to scout him first hand.” – Toffee_L (April 16, 13:04)