Sorry, but the fact that it was an "obvious foul" isn't the point Masky. It deserved the red card in the spirit of the sport, but when did that ever come into the laws of the game?
The question is whether the straight red and instant dismissal was appropriate for the offence, or should Dean have awarded a caution and a yellow for a cynical but not necessarily a dangerous challenge. The laws are clear but are always open to interpretation by referees, particularly when a "bunch of thugs" are playing away to a top 6 club.
In all honesty, Ralls probably deserved the red for the clumsy cynical challenge that stopped the game and prevented a reasonable attacking opportunity, but the "dangerous/last man/excessive violence aspect was not there.
I doubt that argument will hold much water with the appeal commitee though - he'll be extremely lucky to get anything else than the 3 match ban.
The question is whether the straight red and instant dismissal was appropriate for the offence, or should Dean have awarded a caution and a yellow for a cynical but not necessarily a dangerous challenge. The laws are clear but are always open to interpretation by referees, particularly when a "bunch of thugs" are playing away to a top 6 club.
In all honesty, Ralls probably deserved the red for the clumsy cynical challenge that stopped the game and prevented a reasonable attacking opportunity, but the "dangerous/last man/excessive violence aspect was not there.
I doubt that argument will hold much water with the appeal commitee though - he'll be extremely lucky to get anything else than the 3 match ban.

