Fulham vs Everton preview - Jol backs retrospective action for play acting - 7M sport

Fulham vs Everton preview - Jol backs retrospective action for play acting



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Posted Sunday, October 23, 2011 by PA

Fulham manager Martin Jol would back retrospective action for simulation after seeing Moussa Dembele controversially sent off in Poland on Thursday night.

The Belgium international was handed a straight red card 29 minutes into the Cottagers' 1-0 defeat to Wisla Krakow in Europa League Group K.

The incident occurred when an innocuous passage of play flared up, with Dembele pushing over Gervasio Nunez after he caught him on the back of the ankle.

The Argentinian midfielder went down clutching his face despite being pushed at shoulder height, and Jol believes retrospective action by UEFA for such play acting would be a good move.

"That would be something to look at in the future," he said. "I feel [Dembele] should not have raised his hand but, having seen it again, I don't think it is a red card.

"I spoke with him because we were very disappointed. Everything was for nothing because of that action and he knows that.

"You can approach it very positively and say it was not a red card but, on the other hand, he shouldn't have done it. But if UEFA was to look at that situation they would see it was exaggerated a lot.

"It was a little push on his shoulder but you can't do anything about it. We're not the first in history that has happened to but we have been punished twice - you miss the player in the game and he misses the next one as well."

Dembele receives an automatic one-match suspension for the red card and will also miss the rematch with Wisla as Fulham are unable to appeal under UEFA regulations.

While banned for European action, the 24-year-old will play a part in Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash against Everton and will be joined by the returning Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamora.

The pair did not travel to Poland in order to rest ahead of the Toffees' visit and Jol believes such rotation is important to keep the side fighting on all fronts.

"We felt we had to exclude a couple of players [from the Wisla trip] because, after the international break, it is hard to play the same teams all the time," he said.

"That is probably one of the positive things at the moment as we have a lot of players that were not included on Thursday, who were on the bench or rested altogether.

"There was probably eight or nine players [fresh] and that is probably the first time we have had that situation."

As well as utilising his full squad, the Dutchman has been boosted ahead of Everton's visit by the return to fitness of several first-team players.

Skipper Danny Murphy will feature after overcoming a knee injury and will be joined in the squad by Philippe Senderos and Zdenek Grygera, who have recovered from respective knocks. Summer signing Bryan Ruiz could also feature if he passes a fitness test.

Everton manager David Moyes says Apostolos Vellios is getting closer to making his first Toffees start - but feels the young striker is probably still best deployed as an impact substitute for the time being.

Vellios scored his second goal in six appearances off the bench this season when he netted a late consolation for the Merseyside outfit in last weekend's 3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Chelsea.

Moyes admits the 19-year-old Greek is staking a claim for a starting berth, but is wary of putting too much responsibility on Vellios too soon.

Asked how far away Vellios was from earning a place in the first XI, Moyes said: "He has got a possibility - he has scored goals and we are lacking goals at this moment in time.

"In short bursts, he has done very well. But he is young and it would be asking a lot at the moment.

"We see him every day in training and we can see what he is capable of and what he is not. He is certainly getting closer, because we need to get some goalscorers in the team.

"Tolos has come on and got us a couple of goals off the bench, but that might just be the best way for him until he gets a little bit more experienced and little bit more used to it."

James McFadden looks unlikely to make his second Everton debut as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.

McFadden rejoined the Toffees on a free transfer this week, returning to the club he left for Birmingham in 2008, but he has not played a competitive game in over a year due to a serious knee injury and his condition is being closely monitored by Moyes.



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