Anyone remember the Don Welbourne/Graham Rathbone incident?
Didn’t that result in a ban that was unusual at the time?
The FA had decided, in their wisdom, to clamp down on violent play. They decided to make an example of two fourth division players and give them what was then a record suspension.
No first division players were given anything like that kind of discipline even though they were the main culprits.
The incident was nothing more than handbags.
I seem to remember George Best being sent off fairly soon after and receiving only a three MATCH ban.
When questioned the FA said something along the lines of “People turn up to see Man Utd and expect Best to be playing. We shouldn’t disappoint them”, or some other such nonsense.
