LONDON - Argentina's Javier Mascherano was surprised that Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe was not more severely punished for biting his arm in a Premier League match at the weekend, British media said.
"To receive a bite was the worst thing that has happened to me since I came to England," the West Ham United midfielder was quoted as saying.
"Things weren't going well for me but this was unexpected and outrageous," he said of the incident at White Hart Lane during West Ham's 1-0 defeat on Sunday.
"The strangest thing of the match was that the referee didn't send him off."
A Football Association spokesman, however, was quoted as saying: "Fifa regulations prevent us from taking retrospective action."
The FA claim their hands are tied because Defoe was booked when he bit Mascherano on the arm after the Argentine brought him down from behind. Mascherano was also booked.
Football pundits in Britain were also shocked that the England striker should get away with no more than a booking.
Former Ireland striker Tony Cascarino said: "I thought that I could never be shocked by anything in football but, once again, the sport has shown its ability to stun even the most battle scarred veteran.
"Jermain Defoe's impression of Count Dracula on Javier Mascherano on Sunday has to fall into that category. It was unbelievable," he wrote in a column in The Times on Tuesday.
Spurs coach Martin Jol played down the incident, saying it was just a nibble, and Defoe apologised on Monday but added that the reaction to his bite, which he described as mischievous, was exaggerated.
West Ham United were today knocked out of the League Cup 2-1 by third division Chesterfield in a third round shock.
The east London side, who are second from bottom in the top flight and have now lost eight games in a row, were sunk by an 87th minute close-range strike from Caleb Folan.
West Ham had taken the lead through Marlon Harewood after just four minutes but they were unable to add to their score and Colin Larkin equalised in the 54th for the home side.
West Ham have struggled this season despite the surprise signing of Argentine World Cup duo Mascherano and Carlos Tevez.
- REUTERS
Soccer: Mascherano shocked with leniency for Defoe bite
Javier Mascherano
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