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Sunday, January 08, 2012

Two-footed challenges

Just to expand a little on the sending off of Vincent Kompany today during the Manchester derby.
It was predictable enough that comments from the ITV commentary team would be even more crass than when TV is shown on Sky or the BBC, but they still drove me potty, showing a frightening lack of awareness of the Laws of the Game.
Indeed Kompany himself, usually a wonderful centre back, showed unusually poor judgement in leaping in two-footed for a challenge he could comfortably have won with one leg, and could most probably even have stayed on his feet.
But fly in he did, both feet off the ground. Now Chris Foy and I have never played top level football, but the simple laws of physics state that a player has no control over his feet and legs when he is off the ground, whether that's three inches or three feet off the ground.
The player cannot control where his feet are going to land, so they could as easily break a leg as get the ball. It's irrelevant that Kompany got the ball. Nani saved himself by jumping over the challenge, but Kompany showed a flagrant disregard for the safty of his opponent. That's why he was sent off.
Players have been informed over the last couple of seasons that these challenges will be sanctioned with red cards. Many such red cards have been awarded this season.
It's a huge shame that Kompany was sent off. Everyone agrees with that, even Chris Foy. But if you show contempt for the laws of football and don't appear to care if you break someone's leg, then the laws are there to punish you.
It was a thrilling match. Man Utd were at their fluent best in the first half and Man City fought back gloriously. It was wonderful to see Scholes and Hargreaves back on the pitch and both teams had a strong shout each for a penalty.
Valencia was blocked at one end, though it's quite possible the foul took place just outside the area. Foy did not penalise the Man City defender. At the other end, a low cross struck Jones on the arm. Two very difficult decisions but neither was given.

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