Aliadiere's extra suspension deters Sven from appealing Petrov's red card
The knock-on effect of the FA's decision to extend Jeremie Aliadiere's three-match suspension to four matches after Middlesbrough appealed has been felt already after Manchester City cited it as a reason not to appeal against Martin Petrov's red card on Monday night.
City manager Sven Goran Eriksson was considering an appeal after his Bulgarian winger was dismissed for a half-hearted kick at Everton's Leon Osman in the last minute of the club's 2-0 home defeat to the Merseysiders three nights ago.
Petrov sees red: 'Maybe the FA doesn't want us to appeal,' says Sven
But Eriksson revealed today that he decided against after seeing what happened when Boro appealed against Aliadiere's sending-off this week.
Eriksson said: "If we look at what they have done then it is better not appealing. It is better one match than four.
"It was a strange decision to go from three to four days. Maybe they don't want people to appeal in the future."
Aliadiere was sent off for pushing his hand into Javier Mascherano's face at Anfield at the weekend and the FA have been heavily criticised for increasing the regular three-match ban in the wake of Middlesbrough's appeal.
Sense of humour: Sven
"If you make a very bad tackle and injure somebody than that is surely more important than a friendly kick or slap. These two things would not have hurt anybody.
"But I suppose it is important now for the players to make sure they don't do these things."
"The FA want to set an example to young people, I know that. They want to let people know that you can't put your hand in the face of another player and that you can't kick another player.
"I can understand that we are role models."
