JOHNNY Kenny is free to face Blackpool this weekend despite complaints from Tuesday night’s opponents Reading that he should face sanctions for injuring defender Paudie O’Connor.
The Celtic loanee was involved in an incident in the second half in which O’Connor went to ground and the striker’s boot made contact with his opponent’s face.
The resulting injury – described as “horrific” by Reading boss Leam Richardson – left the 28-year-old with a gashed lip and at least one dislodged tooth. As a result, he is unlikely to play any part for the Royals in this weekend when they visit bottom-of-the-table Port Vale.
Richardson has confirmed that the club have complained to referee’s body the PGMOL over the performance of official Peter Wright, who gave a free kick for the offence but did not caution Kenny.
It appears, however, that there is no disciplinary case to answer for the Irish striker, which suggests that the referee had a good view of the incident and deemed it accidental contact, rather than reckless or using excessive force.
Speaking to the Reading Chronicle, Richardson reiterated his disappointment in the referee’s decision, adding that he had not received an apology.
“I don't expect anything from the club or the player himself, unless he does feel like he's done something malicious,” he said.
“I would hope that the EFL or the PGMOL would come to us with some sort of explanation, but that doesn't seem the thing to be in the modern day, neither.
"So, I've made my point clear, and we'll see what we get a response from."
Richardson maintains that Kenny could have avoided contact with his defender after the pair tussled on the edge of the penalty area, with O’Connor falling into harm’s way.
“I don't live in the lad's head who did it,” he said. "Do I think my opinion is that he can get out of the way and not do it? Yes.
"I don't think he can't avoid doing it and then obviously the lack of any sort of punishment from the referee, regardless of whether it was intentional or not is absolutely mind-blowing.
"Not for one minute do I think it can be anything other than a red card. I don't think he (the referee) was even going to give us a free kick, was he, to be honest, because he didn't give us a free kick most of the night."
According to Whoscored.com, the free kick count on the night was 10 to Reading and 15 to Bolton. Reading also touched the ball in Wanderers’ final third just 10 times in the second half, one of which was to take a corner, and made 45 clearances to Bolton’s two.
Mason Burstow scored with Bolton’s seventh shot of the second half, 15th in total, to rescue a point in the 94th minute – ironically with time primarily added on for the injury and treatment to O’Connor, plus his withdrawal from the field.
Reading goalkeeper Joel Pereira was also penalised for holding on to the ball for more than eight seconds, resulting in a Bolton corner.
Under the rules of the Football Association handbook (page 244): “A Charge shall ordinarily be issued by 6pm on the second Business Day following the incident which shall be accompanied by all evidence, documents and written submissions upon which The Association intends to rely.”
The fact that the matter has not been brought to Bolton’s attention almost certainly points towards referee Wright having seen the incident, and deemed the free kick sufficient.
That has not stopped Royals boss Richardson continuing to air his unhappiness in his pre-match press conference.
He added: "I think that was my disappointment because there's four of them on the night with the assessor.
"I think they're all there to have one cause, which is to make sure the referee did the game in a really good standard.
"If I'm going to be critical, I don't think that any of the other three or the assessor helped him at half-time to improve his performance because I thought he came out the second half a little bit worse than he did in the first half."
Asked whether he had expected any retrospective punishment to be handed out to Kenny, Richardson – who represented Bolton for a short time during his playing career and also managed Wigan Athletic – said he was happy to leave it to the authorities, adding that he had also taken issue with other decisions made by Wright on the night.
"We certainly don't want anybody punished who hasn't done anything malicious. If they have, well then, yes,” he said.
"I'm just more interested in how we're officiating games and what their thought process is on it. Because I thought the thought process in the game of... It was the first time I'd ever seen a corner given. I think actually when Joel (Pereira) gets to his feet after the save, it's five seconds, he gets a corner.
"There's various free kicks around where the momentum shifted the opposite way. And then that incident especially was all clear to see. No sanction, nothing.
"Just somebody with nearly a fractured jaw, no teeth and a big gash in his face. And there was somebody who was there saying there was nothing wrong with that.
"So, I would like to know the opinion on that."
Share