Man City's Thatcher banned for 8
tribalfooball.com - September 12, 2006
Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher has been handed an eight-match ban.
But the FA will turn that into a TWENTY-THREE match suspension if the wild Welshman steps out of line again in the next two years.
Thatcher had already copped a four-game ban with a further two suspended from City following his forearm smash on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes on August 23.
He was also fined ?100,000 by the club.
Thatcher attended the 90-minute hearing at the FA's Soho Square HQ with his barrister Rupert Bowers and pleaded guilty to the charge of serious foul play.
He left without commenting in a black Audi car but Bowers implied Thatcher was ashamed of his actions.
Bowers said: "Mr Thatcher deeply regrets the incident.
"He accepted the punishment from his club and that penalty has been increased by the FA.
"Mr Thatcher similarly accepts the FA's decision without question.
"Mr Thatcher again expresses his apologies to all concerned.
"He now wishes to serve his suspension, put the incident behind him and continue with his career."