Yeah. I will admit sometimes a referee I've blown automatically for handball without thinking and then I've thought afterwards that's a bit harsh.
BUT don't the laws say it must be deliberate? I know the unwritten rule is to use common sense so I'm not saying you are wrong but the question was should someone be sent off for a foul that wasn't deliberate even if it denied a goal-scoring opportunity. As such, it does seem harsh when, by the letter of the law, it technically isn't even a foul in the first place. Ultimately, I'm going to have to agree it's FLT on this one, a foul on Tadic will rarely be denying a goal-scoring opportunity!
Howard Webb was on 606 on Saturday night, and he said intent or deliberate was eliminated from all laws apart from handball a few years ago.
Thats what I was wondering in my original post. Its been a while since I actually refereed a game, thank goodness.
I'm not being pedantic. You clearly stated that there cannot be one rule for keepers and one for the rest, yet by your own admission referees interpret a coming together of two players, following a clean, ball winning tackle in different ways, depending on who is involved. I am not suggesting that keepers diving at a players feet, and as a result taking out an attacking player, should be penalised, if he gets the ball first and fairly. I am asking, though, why are outfield players not afforded the same leniency? Very few coming togethers, following a clean tackle, are actually dangerous, so why do referees think they should give a free kick in these incidents? If this type of contact is not written into the laws of the game, as a foul, why are referees interpreting it as a foul, by outfield players but not keepers? Is it as a result of a directive from above? Pedantic There's nothing wrong with focusing on the details, but someone who is pedantic makes a big display of knowing obscure facts and details.
I don't have a problem with fouls being treated differently outfield than in the area. If you treated them the same, the punishment would be greater if it is in the goal area. Giving free kicks outfield discourages players from fouling all over the pitch (which would be disgusting ) and refs would be more willing to take a risk of being wrong, but can understand refs wanting to be more certain in the box. And please don't say they should always be right because that is never going to happen.
we have appealed the red card http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35803664 It should be a slam dunk, but I just have this little niggle...
Surely they should have phoned Saints to say red card rescinded and sorry about our piss poor referee.
I've heard, not only have they rescinded the card......they have also promised us a dubious penalty one next week.
Surely if Mr Mason had any integrity or thought for others he would have by now said 'I apologise to Mr Mane, as my actions inferred that he was a player who played recklessly and dangerously, given the evidence I can now confirm that I was mistaken'.
