Defoe escapes FA action
By Peter ORourke - Created on 23 Oct 2006
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Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Player Pages:
Jermain Defoe
Javier Mascherano
The Football Association have confirmed they will take no action against Jermaine Defoe for his alleged bite on West Ham's Javier Mascherano.
Tottenham's 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday was overshadowed by the altercation involving Defoe and Mascherano during the first half at White Hart Lane.
It appeared that Defoe tried to bit the arm of Mascherano after reacting to a tackle from behind by the West Ham midfielder.
Defoe was booked for the incident, but there have been calls for Defoe to face further action from The Football Association.
However, The FA have decided that referee Steve Bennett dealt with the matter and as a result Defoe will face no further punishment.
An FA spokesman said: "We are unable to take any action because the referee has already dealt with the incident. Under Fifa regulations, we are prevented from taking retrospective action."
Defoe's representative Sky Andrew has defended his client and insists the whole incident has been blown out of proportion.
"Me and Jermain talked about the situation and we both thought it has been taken out of proportion. "I saw the picture today (in the papers) and it just exaggerated the whole thing," Andrew told Sky Sports News.
"Jermaine feels that whatever happened, the referee was standing right over him. And, if he'd done anything bad, the referee would've taken the appropriate action.
"Jermaine says he did not bit him and I believe him. At the end of the day the way the player reacts to him is up to him.
"From Jermain's points of view it was a difficult game, there were quite a few challenges made on him from behind and it was also a difficult atmosphere, but I am not making excuses.
"If you look at the way Jermain Defoe has conducted himself over the last 18 months, two years, the way he conducts himself on the pitch, the way he conducts himself off the pitch, you can't get a better role model.
"This incident has been blown out of proportion and, because he's a role model, he has to be whiter than white.
"To me, it's a small misdemeanour when you consider what type of image Jermain Defoe sets out to young kids.
"At the moment the best thing for him to do is to concentrate on football and focus on the next game.
"It has been blown out of proportion and Jermain accepts he is a role model and that is big of him to say that."
