Time is running out for Sir Alex . He desperately wants to win that trophy one more time before being promoted .
http://www.metatube.com/en/videos/174270/Arbeloa-clash-with-Evra-Manchester-United-vs-Real-Madrid/ Arbeloa challenge on Evra - reckless & over the ball
It's unlucky perhaps but these sorts of decisions are given, especially in Europe and players need to be more wary before raising their foot that high etc. I remember something similar with Drogba getting sent off in the Nou Camp. You just can't give refs the chance to make such a decision. Nani also probably didn't help his cause with the obvious play acting of someone trying to get out of trouble. It changed the game but credit to Madrid for taking advantage as having a man extra against a team defending a lead doesn't always work out.
For me, that Arbeloa challenge was worse than Nani's high foot because he knew exactly what he was doing when he almost studded Evra in the nuts and the ball had already gone before he even made the challenge, still not a red card offense for me but according to the laws of the game he showed more excessive force because he was intentionally aiming for the player, not the ball.
I don't believe either offense warranted a red card but how can one be interpreted as a yellow and one as a red
Yep Arbeloa's was a deliberate challenge which was excessively forceful. He clearly set out to stop Evra with no intention to win the ball. Strange the wums ignore that one and the punch to Vidic at the set piece.
Sorry about that. My wording wasn't clear. I wasn't accusing him of reckless play in the rulebook sense of the word (which could also be justified as a yellow, and a better choice for the circumstances). I meant he was dangerous and risked injury to his opponent. So what if he didn't see him? If I drive a car at 150mph and hit someone I didn't see, I don't get the benefit of the doubt. I don't get investigated for intent and I don't get off with a warning. What the issue is is that I hit someone due to my own recklessness. That's what Nani got sent off for. Dangerous play resulting in the injury of another player (not serious but look at the picture of Arbeloa showing the marks). Intent doesn't come into it until you decide on further punishment. And yes, I think Nani did exceed regular force. He didn't withdraw his foot, he didn't slow down, he leaped into the air, studs up with a high boot to control a ball that wasn't all that important. He shouldn't have given the referee a choice at all. As for the kick - well, I'm not sure. I know Nani has a little bit of a reputation but I don't want to jump to conclusions. It looks like a kick but as you said there could well be a reason for it.
Comparing it to driving a car... really? One is a car that isn't legally supposed to hit anything at all, the other is a player in a CONTACT sport where contact isn't just unavoidable, it's required. As for Nani not withdrawing his foot, he had his eye on the ball behind him the whole time and his foot was under Arbeloa's armpit before he ever knew he was there, how exactly was he supposed to withdraw it at that point?
What's equally strange is United fans largely ignoring the decisions that went against Madrid whilst calling this Nani decision a game changer. Real had a goal ruled out and a solid pen appeal turned away (that may have led to United being down to 10 men earlier). Fact is some decisions went for and against both teams and in the end probably evened out. It's not the massive injustice some are claiming it to be; especially when a case can be made for the red card (even if it appears harsh).
I don't think anyone expects contact to be one player's studs above hip height on another player though. Might as well let him kick him in the face, it is a contact sport after all...
The rules don't say anything about having your feet at hip height though, high feet is above shoulder height and is not an automatic card, which is why overhead kicks haven't been outlawed.
Probably explains why Evans got away with his karate kick on Drogba a couple of seasons back then..... As I say, the decision is harsh but I don't think it could be said to be 100% wrong.
Incredible . So if a player starts lifting his feet into the air then it's an automatic red card? No more overhead kicks then.
And there in lies the issue, the fickle nature of football fans!! TBH when I saw the Nani incident I thought yellow. But (and same if Torres had walked), you can understand if the ref gives a red and players sometimes have to take some blame.
FFS. If any act is deemed as falling foul of one of 7 offences as stipulated by FIFA as a red card offence, then it's a dismissal. But not every time a player lifts his foot off the ground means its dangerous.
But when you smash it full speed into an opponent's torso it is dangerous, intent or not. And yes, I'm comparing it to driving a car. Obviously not serious like that but the principle is the same. I'm not going to get off the hook because I didn't watch where I was going. That's my fault for not checking to see if what I was doing was dangerous.
