Last night Nani (Man U) was sent off because of a high kick. I thought it harsh as he was going for the ball as the Madrid player ran on to him. However, the question I want to as is; Should all attempts to kick the ball be restricted to below the waistline? If this was the case, Peter Crouch should have been sent of against West Ham when he kicked a defender in the face whilst attempting an overhead kick?
Its a strange one cuz I think the current rule is any sort of indangering another player and you should go. If I remember rightly crouch didnt even get booked and it was far more dangerous even if there was no intent to hurt the man I think if last nites game was in the prem nani wud have got booked thats it but the stupid thing is I still think crouch would of gotten away with it had he been playing last night. Ultimately I think there tryin there best to get any type of phyical contact out the game, where I agree with clamping down on dangerous play I think the old chestnut of referees being consist will have us having these debates for a long time yet
Difficult one last night. No intent but his foot was so high that it caught him above the waist, so you can't argue that it became dangerous. Re Crouch-yes if there is a man close enough and he decides a scissors kick is the way to go and kicks someone in the face, it is the same dangerous play. I played 25 years of football and never saw anyone kicked in the face by a scissors kick or for that matter someone caught at chest height by an action like Nani's. Saw plenty of awful leg breaking tackles, lunges etc. Maybe we weren't good enough to do scissors kicks or control the ball at chest height, but Nani had an option last night. He could have had a quick look and saw the man coming or he could have realised he was not going to be able to control the ball at that height and with his foot in that position, and let the ball drop. Either way he caught an opponent above the waist, so the referee was within his rights to send him off, no matter how harsh people think it was.
I agree that the ref was right northernstoke but it`s intersting to realised that it would not have been punished in the Premiership. Just maybe a yellow but never a red By the way I found this which may help. "Dangerous Play" (or playing in a dangerous manner) is any action by a player that in the judgment of the Referee is dangerous to himself or to another player and that isn't a "direct kick foul" such as tripping. Examples would be a high kick when an opponent is nearby.
For me you can not outlaw contact or we will be playing to Wengers rules! Accidental contact will happen and players will get hurt/injured but you can not punish someone for contact where there was no intent ot knowledge. If a player comes from the blindside you are unaware and unsighted of another players motion/action how can you amend or control your actions accordingly? If that was a red card last night then no foward player can ever take the ball out of the air with their back to a defender - CRAZY! It was no more dangerous than a defender going head first through the back of a forward where he has full sight, or a keeper following through and punching a player in the head when clearing, if anything these potential head injuries are far more dangerous! I personally really dislike Nani but that for me was utter Blatter bullshit and ruined a top game in favour of a spansih team - AGAIN!!! - lets not forget the most curropt offciating at Chelsea in favour of Barca! In addition this head hight bollocks has to stop. I am pretty sure the rule is that you play to the smallest man in an incident, but if you accept that the average footballer is the best part of 6 foot, why do we get these "high boot" calls when players are stooping with their heads below shoulder hight? The contact is happening at 5 foot and if thats the rule then a divingt header can never be defended!
I thought it was harsh but.... Nani's foot was way too high, surly he knew this? Not sure if he saw the player tbh. Why would he raise his foot so high for a ball if he did'nt. A yellow would have been fair enough I give Nani the benefit of the doubt and the ref spoiled the game IMHO. Crouch's attempt last week was fair enough again, just my view of it I've only seen it live .. unlike Nani's challenge last night i.e. Sky Sports News keep showing it.
If that is the case then the player who knowingly ran into Nani should have been sent off as he knowingly ran in on the blind side. For myself it wasn't deliberate so yellow at most. If that ref came to one of our games we wouldn't have a player on the pitch but he would have probably sent the crowd home aswell!!!!
Just seen it again, different angle. 50/50 - at worst a yellow IMO. BTW - is Roy Keane a sad bitter bastard or what?
If you send players off for doing what Nani did then the game of football is ruined, a genuine attempt to get the ball, absolutely ridiculous sending off.
