Blatter is not fit to occupy his position. Taylor was clumsy. We all wish Eduardo a full and speedy recovery. Meanwhile, deal with the core problem of the inconsistency of Taylor's clumsiness vs Andy Cole's wanton recklessness - take away the fear of referees to dish out red cards. Every shirt pull, every high tackle, every dive, every act of aggression or racist slur, every verbal/physical confrontation of the officials by players or managers; every single infringement of the laws of the game should be punished with a card - yellow or red, at the ref's discretion. Do it for two months, religiously, purge the game of its cynicism and cheating and let the survivors play on. Should be interesting to see 3 vs 4 at the end of the game. Maybe it'd bring pack the stadia once again!!

Spike, estepona,

You only have to see how high his challenge was to know it was dangerous. He may have not meant to break his leg, but that was the end result and now Eduardo faces upto 15months out all because he is 'too quick'.

The question the FA need to ask themselves is whether the challenge from Taylor was wreckless. If they feel it was wreckless, he should have his ban extended due to the extent of the injury caused.

TT, London,

This is a complete joke, Taylor was guilty is being slow and slightly heavy heanded, nothing else. This tackle was clearly a case of being totally out foxed by the speed and skill of Eduardo, to say he was attacking the player is stupid and I believe far from the truth. There are tackles made each week which are far worse but these are either missed by the officials or contact is not made and the players escape without injury. The tackles we need to stamp out are the 2 footed lunges made with a full run up, these are the tackles plaguing football at the moment. Where are FIFA on sorting them out??

Chris, Portsmouth, UK

I've never heard anything so proposterous. Luis Fabiano, the Sevilla striker, once kung-fu kicked an opponant in the neck during a match in South America which left his opponant hospitalised. He served a four-match ban, but I didn't here Blatter calling for anything longer then. That was a vicious assault, this was a mis-timed tackle.
I cannot accept that the outcry from pathetic morons such as Blatter would be the same if it was one of Wayne Rooney's or Ashley Cole's horrific lunges that had had the same impact.
As for the person who commented about Ronaldo, his claims after the FA Cup defeat to Portsmouth, along with his manager, were utterly pathetic. He was on the end of one slightly aggresive shoulder-charge. There was one horrific challenge in that game - an it was comitted by Rooney.

Dave, Doncaster,

This is a very, very cheap shot on FIFA's part. Plenty of players put in dangerous, malicious tackles all the time but those who happen to play for the 'glamour' clubs get ignored. Yet here is a chance for Sepp Blatter to make a point at the expense of a low profile defender from an unglamourous, relegation-threatened club and watch him leap at it. Cowardly and pathetic, the FA have acted properly within the sanctions of the Premier League and FIFA have no business meddling.

I await with interest, but without holding my breath, for Mr Blatter's intervention the next time Wayne Rooney has a game that doesn't go his way and leaps in against an opponent, a la Ronaldo tackle in the World Cup. I predict silence from FIFA, anyone prepared to bet against it?

Sophie, Liverpool,

If I was Martin taylor - I would take Bladder to court - its discusting to ruin Talylors reputation on a badly timed tackle - look at this guys history over the years he has been playing - it shows he is no bad boy
Blatter should be shown by COurt to keep his big mouth shut - or face the courts !

david smith, liverpool, merseyside

This is totally stupid. Admitedly it was a very bad challenge, but it was no worse than Ashley Cole's horror from the Spurs match last night. Yet Cole will recieve no ban at all because the referee booked him at the time. Taylor has already served his ban for the same offence.

Rob Allen, Cheshire, UK

This is disgusting. A world governing body which cannot punish a player for a malicious tackle with mal-intent (Ashley Cole on Alan Hutton) but can punish a player who regrettably made a tackle which both the assailant and victim wish to forget and put behind them. What a murky world football has slipped into. A long punishment for Martin Taylor would not be productive for either Birmingham or Arsenal or other players if tackles committed by players such as Ashley Cole are only worthy of a yellow. FIFA's behaviour disgusts me. As a result of an over-zealous media and a blame culture Martin Taylors career could be over.

Mat, Liverpool>,

"deliberately attacking" and "demolish" these words do not describe the incident that I saw, but do apply to the current manager of Sunderland in his admitted assault on Haaland a few years back. By all means lets get rid of the thugs but let us make sure we get the real villains. as for Sepp Blatter the sooner he is retired the better.

Steve Barrett, Bodmin, cornwall

I support Blatter in totality, intentionally or not, Taylor punishment does not commensurate with the damage. The three match ban is for the claimed unintentional tackle, punishment should also be meted for the damage he had caused the player. It is only fair that way.

twinstaiye, Abuja, Nigeria

How typical of all sports administrators to be so removed from reality - Taylor's tackle was certainly not the worst tackle seen in the Premiership this season, it was just unfortunate that Eduardo's foot was planted, where others' have not been. Watched in real time, it was the smallesy fraction of a second from being a good tackle, straight through the ball. Dangerous tackle, red card, 3 match ban - correct, and also what Cole should have had last night.
I can only assume that Fifa are trying to ward of rioting at the forthcoming Croatia-England games, which is probably not a bad policy I suppose.

Adam, London,

Sepp Blatter.......

This is the guy who reckoned that women should play football in hot pants and skimpier clothing in order to attract more viewers.

Now who reckons Blatter's strangle hold on reality should be respected in the Taylor incident......

Nigel, Grimsby, Ontario

I think FIFA are moving in the right direction. There are many thugs in the EPL who disguised their innocent looking tackles to take their opponents out of the match.
If the FA are not willing to dish out severe punishment it will embolden all the thugs and make a mockery of soccer in England.
No wonder Ronaldo is crying out for protection from the referees who seem to seem to look the other way when tackles come flying in.Don't be surprised if Ronaldo has had enough and leavee. Then we can only blame the FA.

James Silvester, Nicosia, Cyprus

How is Sepp Blatter still in professional employment? Pretty much everyone with an opinion that matters on this incident has accepted that Taylor's challenge was reckless, slow and stupid at worst, with no intention to cause injury. Does Blatter intend to push for a prolonged suspension for Alvarez, who was sent off against Real Madrid for a far worse challenge against Arjen Robben that ended up with a ONE MATCH ban?
Put Arjen Robben tackle in YouTube and watch it for yourselves, people, and try and remember we are not the devils incarnate of bad tackling that some in the footballing press seem to think we are.

Chris, Worthing, England

Why can't Mr Blatter keep his opinions to himself.

This matter has been dealt with in a fair manner already and he has no business ordering people around over whom he has no authority.

It was a horrid tackle and most unfortunate but it is professional sport and the player had a prevously good record.

David, St Albans, UK

Fifa are a courrupt, joke organisation with a long-standing bias against English football. Anyone who really knows football could see that there was no intent. Sure it was a sending off offence, but I see far worse tackles, and not just by Englishmen! It was just unlucky that he broke the guy's leg.

J Jones, London,