Thudd

[mano-obe]

The Football Association has confirmed that no action will be taken against Tom Huddlestone for his alleged stamp on Johan Elmander.

The Tottenham midfielder appeared to land his foot on the Bolton striker as Harry Redknapp's side went down to a 4-2 defeat at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

However, he will not be charged by the FA after referee Chris Hoy confirmed that match officials did see the incident.

Even if the full nature of the clash was not seen by the officials, under Fifa rules the FA is then not allowed to summon video evidence to try the case retrospectively.

"We can confirm there will be no action taken against Tom Huddlestone," said an FA spokesman.

Huddlestone has therefore escaped a possible three-match suspension for violent conduct and will be available for Tottenham's clash with Sunderland on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old has already avoided a Uefa charge this season after television pictures showed his elbow making contact with the face of an opponent during Spurs' Champions League win over FC Twente.

But Redknapp has defended his player, saying Huddlestone is not an 'aggressive' character.

 

[brett.spurs]

Don't think he meant it, he's just not very coordinated.

 

[spackers]

if this is true, he got very, very lucky, as all signs and suggestions were a ban was in order. very important for us if he escaped (again)

 

[Raxscallion]

I really do think that it was a badly misjudged attempt to not stamp on him. It looked bad, but Thud's never been an overly aggressive type, and there was no build-up, no provocation. For him to randomly decide to stamp on a player out of the blue just doesn't make sense.

 

[punky]

Don't think he meant it, he's just not very coordinated.

I was wondering that but then there's the elbow the other day as well. I reckon Harry is geeing him up a bit and telling to be a bit feistier like Palacios.

 

[Raxscallion]

I was wondering that but then there's the elbow the other day as well. I reckon Harry is geeing him up a bit and telling to be a bit feistier like Palacios.

The elbow was similar in some ways though. He didn't swing at his head, he was trying to shake him off as he was having his shirt pulled off his back. His elbow was at waist height, and the only reason it connected with the player's face was because he was sliding in horizontally booting the crap out of Thud's calves.

 

[theburtonshelf]

I havnt seen it since the incident, why would i want to relive saturday!, but from where I was stood the guy came lunging in at him, tom saw it and jumped out the way and then the guys writhing round on the floor. Im not sure toms feet are quick enouigh to purposely land on the guy the speed he was going!

 

[guate]

The way Elmander slid in at full speed showed me that he was going to stop the player, no matter what. Fortunately Hudd jumped at the last moment and ungainly game down to land his foot on the Bolton striker. Thank God common sense has once again prevailed.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Lol its part of tom's plan, yeah I'm a gentle giant really! While continues to mame and kill on the pitch

 

[CaptainCat]

Lucky boy, it seemed deliberate. But in no way was it a "stamp" - a stamp is something completely different.

 

[Coyboy]

It's because he's immobile.

One of the perks. Sympathy.

 

[Zammo]

Storm in a teacup. The FA had no choice, there's no way they could prove there was intent.

 

[MattyP]

He is a lucky boy on this one, he moved his foot towards the player when it was more natural to go down and avoid the player.

He deserves to be banned, but at least we are finally getting a top four decision go in our favour.

 

[C-oops]

Bus conductor will be the only person not happy at this news.

 

[StartingPrice]

Don't think he meant it, he's just not very coordinated.

Oh,I think it was very deliberate.

if this is true, he got very, very lucky, as all signs and suggestions were a ban was in order. very important for us if he escaped (again)

And that means this is so true.

We see how good he is when is isn't playing (apparntly not statistically, though:grin, so I am relaly glad he got away with it.

 

[Jimmypearce7]

I think he was quite lucky. Always tempting to see our own players as not malicious and perpartrators of innocent mistakes and the opposition as possessing evil intent, I think if it had been the other way round we would have been unhappy.

 

[spursontheloose]

He did mean it, but did'nt actually do it with any venom so guess it's the right decision plus the officials did'nt note anything down about the incident so got off with it that way too.

 

[nedley]

Lucky lucky boy.

Taking off my tottenham hat, I find it disgusting that incidents like that go unpunished.

I remember seething when Gerrard went unpunished when he forarmed smashed Micheal Brown in the face last season. Whats the point of having a pannel?

But it is the FA. An absolute sham of an organisation.

 

[cwy21]

The ref saw it. He called a foul. Because the ref saw it, they can't ban him.

 

[StartingPrice]

The ref saw it. He called a foul. Because the ref saw it, they can't ban him.

He didn't.

He pulled play back when the Bolton payer stayed down and gave a drop-ball...which Bolton, obligingly played back to us.