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22:27 GMT, Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Taylor makes Birmingham comeback

Martin Taylor

Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor returned to action on Tuesday for the first time since breaking Arsenal forward Eduardo's leg last month.

The 28-year-old Taylor played for the entire game for Birmingham reserves in the 3-3 draw with Tottenham.

Earlier on Tuesday the Football Association had rejected Fifa's call to impose a longer ban on Taylor.

The defender was shown a red card and given a three-match suspension for his tackle in the 2-2 draw on 23 February.

With Birmingham just two points above the drop zone Blues boss Alex McLeish must decide whether to recall Taylor for Saturday's away game against relegation rivals Reading.

Fifa disciplinary chief Marcel Mathier said the FA should have increased the ban.

But an FA spokesman said: "It would be unreasonable at this stage of the season to change our disciplinary procedures on the basis of one case."

The spokesman added: "That would be a dangerous precedent to set.

"We will be reviewing our procedures at the end of the season"
FA spokesman

"Serious foul play carries a three-match ban and the only cases where that has been increased is where there has been a clear case of intent and no-one is suggesting that happened in this case.

"We will be reviewing our procedures at the end of the season and consulting with the whole game, and dangerous tackles are certainly an area we will be looking at.

"We will also be requesting a meeting with Fifa for their input."

Fifa president Sepp Blatter took a personal interest in the case and demanded the file be sent to his disciplinary head.

The world governing body said in a statement: "The file on the sanction imposed by the FA on the player Martin Taylor was received and thoroughly reviewed by the chairman of the Fifa disciplinary committee.

"A letter was then sent requesting the FA to once again review the incident in detail and reconsider the sanction."

606: DEBATE
Will Taylor return to Birmingham's first team?

Eduardo, who suffered a fractured left fibula and an open dislocation of his left ankle, has said he is uncertain when he will be able to return to the game, with estimates for his recovery time ranging from nine to 15 months.

The 25-year-old Croatia striker will miss Euro 2008 and his nation's World Cup qualifier at home to England on 10 September.

Taylor has repeatedly insisted that the tackle - in the second minute of the game - was mis-timed and that the incident was purely accidental.




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Related to this story:

Birmingham 1-1 Newcastle (17 Mar 08 |  Premier League )
McLeish buoyant over survival bid (13 Mar 08 |  Birmingham City )
Portsmouth 4-2 Birmingham (12 Mar 08 |  Premier League )
Eduardo intent on swift recovery (24 Feb 08 |  Premier League )
McLeish angry at Blatter comments (10 Mar 08 |  Birmingham City )
Fifa to look at Taylor challenge (09 Mar 08 |  Birmingham City )
Eduardo uncertain of return date (06 Mar 08 |  Arsenal )
Taylor apologised to me - Wenger (29 Feb 08 |  Arsenal )
Eduardo injury 'can spur Gunners' (29 Feb 08 |  Arsenal )
Taylor hopes for Eduardo return (29 Feb 08 |  Birmingham City )
Injured Eduardo leaves hospital (27 Feb 08 |  Arsenal )
Taylor shattered by injury horror (25 Feb 08 |  Birmingham City )
Hansen on Eduardo's injury (24 Feb 08 |  Premier League )
Wenger retracts Taylor criticism (24 Feb 08 |  Premier League )
Birmingham 2-2 Arsenal (23 Feb 08 |  Premier League )

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