keeping house in order cricket vs football

a professional cricketer has been banned prom the game for 10 years after an unsavoury incident at a semi pro game. he gets 10 year ban. eric cantona got a 9 month ban, ben thatcher got a 8 game ban.

10 years? from what i saw thatchers' assault on a fellow pro and cantona's leap into the crowd were as bad as this incident if not worse.

are there similarities, should they be compared?

if you can be bothered, discuss.......

Originally Posted by cric-info

Mark Vermeulen, the former Zimbabwe batsman, has been banned from English first-class and league cricket for 10 years following an on-pitch bust up in the Central Lancashire League.

The incident occurred when Vermeulen, playing as a professional for Werneth against Ashton, confronted opposition fans on Sunday. He was restrained by club officials before his captain ordered him off the field and he was led from the ground. Darren Shadford, the Werneth captain, then conceded the match.

Jon Selby, who was playing for Ashton in the match, told Cricinfo the chain of events. "He'd been a bit wound up throughout the match. He hadn't scored many - about 12 - and when we batted he came onto bowl, which he doesn't do much of.

"He got hit for a boundary then bowled a wide and someone from the crowd shouted 'If you take your sunnies off you'll be able to see where you are bowling.' At the end of the over he marched towards the boundary and appeared to hurl a ball towards the spectators. It hit the railings so missed everyone, but it was an end-of-season match with plenty of women and children watching.

Dunno what the world's coming to.

In Cantona's defence was the fact that he was severely provoked. Perhaps you can argue that for Vermeulen but that might be stetching credibility a bit. Seemed like usual Lancashire League banter to me. Sentence unduly harsh and I'm sure he'll appeal.

Can't argue with the Ben Thatcher sentence.... seemed about right to me as, although poor at best, his challenge wasn't premeditated and he's shown considerable remorse.

In short, other two examples about right, Vermeulen harsh.