Planet Swans ArchivesIt is probably just as well that Garry Monk was cleared of assault at his FAW Discliplinary hearing as the three match ban he received for miscounduct would have been much more severe had he been found gulity of assault on referee Eddie Evans.
Monk was sent off against Shrewsbury on November 20 and moved towards the referee who fell onto the ground. Fears of a ‘Paulo Di Canio’ soon subsided when the referee revealed after the game that he just slipped but that did not stop Monk facing this hearing today charged with assault/threatening behaviour/whatever word you want to use to describe it.
Monk was cleared of that charge but it was decided that he should serve a further three game ban for failing to leave the field of play after receiving the red card which surely on that basis alone would mean most red carded players getting further bans. I suspect that Monk’s is more to the way he reacted to the red card and that moment of madness has not only cost him five matches so far but also with the return to fitness to Izzy Iriekpen potentially alot more if he forms a solid partnership with Kevin Austin at the back.
Monk will now sit out the games against Notts County and Boston at the Vetch together with the trip to Kidderminster on Boxing Day.
Monk has already been publicly criticised by his manager for his actions at Shrewsbury ”Garry’s second booking looked harsh given some of the challenges that went in elsewhere in the game,” added Jackett, still seething like never before in his time at Vetch Field. ”But where I’m disappointed with Garry was the first booking because that was unnecessary. ”He raised his hands to the man and showed an aggressive attitude. He got needlessly booked as a result and then that cost him on the second one. ”I felt that was a dubious decision, but the point is that if he hadn’t been booked the first time the second wouldn’t have been so crucial.” Jackett told the Evening Post soon after the defeat.
No response has been made in answer to the charge against both clubs for failing to control their players in the game which also saw Andy Robinson see red as the Swans lost 2-0.
