Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Sergio Agüero will not face Football Association charges of simulation under new regulations for their involvement in incidents that led to red cards for Kyle Walker and Morgan Schneiderlin in Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Everton.
Calvert-Lewin and Agüero have escaped being referred to a three-person panel that judges cases of alleged simulation as, it is understood, the incidents are not viewed as clear-cut.
Walker was sent off just before half-time during Monday’s match at the Etihad Stadium. The City right-back had just been booked for a foul on Leighton Baines when Bobby Madley, the referee, adjudged Walker to have elbowed Calvert-Lewin.
The forward went down dramatically, which convinced Duncan Ferguson of Walker’s force, causing the Everton coach to remonstrate with the fourth official, Michael Oliver.
Calvert-Lewin’s fall seemed also to influence Madley, who showed a second yellow card to Walker before replays clarified that the defender’s elbow touched the player’s ribs rather than face.
Schneiderlin was also sent off for a second booking after 88 minutes. The midfielder took the ball cleanly from Agüero but caught the centre-forward with a trailing boot. The tackle seemed fair and the Argentinian appeared to exaggerate his fall.
The FA has brought in regulations which allow retrospective action for deception of a match official through “simulation/exaggeration/feigning injury”.
Although some will argue Calvert-Lewin and Agüero were guilty, the FA intends to bring cases to a panel only when there has been a clear case of no contact. Calvert-Lewin and Agüero did receive contact.
If a case does reach a three-person panel for judgment, the members review the incident independently and return a verdict unaware of their fellow panelists’ decisions.
If they are unanimous in believing a player deceived a match official, the sanction will be a two-match ban. The card shown to an opponent can then be rescinded.