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| FA will not punish Defoe 'bite' | FA will not punish Defoe 'bite' |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The Football Association will take no action against Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe over the biting incident in Sunday's game with West Ham. | The Football Association will take no action against Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe over the biting incident in Sunday's game with West Ham. |
| Defoe seemed to bite the arm of Javier Mascherano after he was fouled by the midfielder, with both players booked by referee Steve Bennett. | |
| An FA spokesman said: "We are unable to take any action because the referee has already dealt with the incident. | |
| "Fifa regulations prevent us from taking retrospective action." | |
| Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher was punished by the FA after the event earlier this season when his forearm smash left Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes in hospital. | |
| However, that incident was deemed as exceptional because Mendes sufferedserious injury but in most cases, the FA's hands are tied because of Fifa'sstance on the issue of retrospective punishment. | |
| Defoe felt his actions had been "blown out of all proportion". | |
| "The referee was standing over me and if he felt I had done something bad he would have sent me off," said the 24-year-old. | "The referee was standing over me and if he felt I had done something bad he would have sent me off," said the 24-year-old. |
| "It doesn't look great on TV and I accept that I have a responsibility to conduct myself in the right way. | "It doesn't look great on TV and I accept that I have a responsibility to conduct myself in the right way. |
| "When the West Ham player fouled me, I reacted in a bit of a mischievous way - my character is a little like that at times." | "When the West Ham player fouled me, I reacted in a bit of a mischievous way - my character is a little like that at times." |
| Sports minister Richard Caborn had earlier called for the FA to examine Defoe's actions. | |
| In today's game, he could have been sent off West Ham boss Alan Pardew | In today's game, he could have been sent off West Ham boss Alan Pardew |
| Caborn told The Times: "Any action like this I hope the authorities will decide on. Players in these positions have a responsibility to set a good example." | Caborn told The Times: "Any action like this I hope the authorities will decide on. Players in these positions have a responsibility to set a good example." |
| The incident came towards the end of the first half of Tottenham's 1-0 win at White Hart Lane. | The incident came towards the end of the first half of Tottenham's 1-0 win at White Hart Lane. |
| Spurs boss Martin Jol described Defoe's bite as a "comical nibble". | Spurs boss Martin Jol described Defoe's bite as a "comical nibble". |
| "He was nibbling his arm - there will be no mark. Ask Mascherano if he has got a mark," said Jol. | "He was nibbling his arm - there will be no mark. Ask Mascherano if he has got a mark," said Jol. |
| "It is part of the game. They kicked him three times from behind in 10 minutes and he wanted to show his frustration in a nice, comical way." | "It is part of the game. They kicked him three times from behind in 10 minutes and he wanted to show his frustration in a nice, comical way." |
| 606: DEBATE I agree that it's all been blown up a bit too much, but equally Jol and Defoe's 'mischief' excuses seem like just that to me YV 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE I agree that it's all been blown up a bit too much, but equally Jol and Defoe's 'mischief' excuses seem like just that to me YV 606: Have your say |
| However, Hammers boss Alan Pardew, who saw his side slide to a fifth straight Premiership defeat, did not see the funny side. | However, Hammers boss Alan Pardew, who saw his side slide to a fifth straight Premiership defeat, did not see the funny side. |
| "Mascherano brought him down from behind and that was definitely a booking," he said. | "Mascherano brought him down from behind and that was definitely a booking," he said. |
| "I didn't quite see the reaction from Jermain but it looked like he gestured towards Mascherano but whether there was any contact I don't know. | "I didn't quite see the reaction from Jermain but it looked like he gestured towards Mascherano but whether there was any contact I don't know. |
| "In today's game he could have gone. If he was sent off there, it would have changed the game." | "In today's game he could have gone. If he was sent off there, it would have changed the game." |