The FA Throw the Book At Thatcher

Ben Thatcher's forearm smash into the face of Pedro Mendes earned him one of the heaviest punishments ever handed down by the Football Association last night when he was banned for eight matches and warned that any further transgressions might incur a 15-match ban - a Premier League record.

Based on the time of the suspension Thatcher will not be eligible to play for Man City until its match against Middlesbrough on October 30. He has already been fined four weeks wages and won't face any other financial penalties. The Football Association hearing has also basically handed him a two year probabtion. If in the next two years he does anything that is construed as violent behavior, he will automatically get a 15-match suspension.

Thatcher has written a letter to Mendes appoligizing for his actions. He has also released a statement through his agent that he "Deeply regretted" his actions in the match against Portsmouth.

I'm glad to see them hand down a big suspension to Thatcher. It was a terrible what he did and he deserves every bit of the punishment. Hopefully he will learn from his actions and play a little bit cleaner in the future.