FA expected to stamp authority on Redknapp

Everton - 0 Tottenham - 1: The FA is today expected to charge Jamie Redknapp with violent conduct for his foul on Tim Cahill on Saturday after the referee Graham Poll admitted the challenge was worthy of a dismissal rather than the yellow card he showed.

Poll has studied television footage of Redknapp's challenge on Cahill and has concluded in hindsight that he was too lenient on the Tottenham captain. He will be asked to review the incident by the FA this morning and will argue that he did not have a proper view of the tackle.

Redknapp, who was quick to issue an apology, is likely to be charged with violent conduct and banned for three matches.

The belated punishment will be of little consolation to Cahill. He will anxiously await the results of a scan with his season hanging in the balance.

The prospects do not appear promising. Cahill ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the same joint two years ago and was sidelined for seven months. He instantly feared a repeat as Redknapp inexplicably and spitefully planted his left leg into the Australian's knee just after the hour mark here. The stadium winced in sympathy at the time, then exploded in fury.

It is easy to comprehend why. Three weeks ago Cahill was shown a yellow card for baring his chest after scoring at Manchester City, his second caution of the afternoon. Redknapp's assault was ridiculously deemed to merit the same punishment.

"What's the game coming to?" asked a bemused and bitter Cahill. "You can't celebrate a goal, but you can kick people."

Poll's admission will temper that frustration, though the anomaly in the rules remains.

There might have been another red card for Jermain Defoe's horrible two-footed lunge on David Weir some 10 minutes after Cahill had hobbled from the turf.

"Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not that sort of player," said Redknapp, whose initial apology to the Australian was angrily waved away. Robbie Keane attempted to make peace on his behalf before Redknapp and Cahill spoke ahead of the Evertonian's departure on crutches for hospital.

Spurs' winner came after Noe Pamarot thumped a header in from Keane's cross in the 53rd minute.