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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Dangerous challenges = red cards. Goddit??!!

Perhaps the message is getting through. Dangerous challenges, especially the two-footed variety, mean a player runs a high risk of receiving the dreaded red card. Mr Zokora's challenge against Man City tonight may not have connected (fortunately) but that doesn't matter. The challenge was dangerous and calculated. Having sent Didier Zokora off, Steve Bennett then faced the nasty test of having to deal with Steed Malbranque, when he committed a far worse two-footed foul. Bennett didn't send him off and will probably be regretting that decision tonight as he heads back down the M1 to Kent. I'm pretty sure he won't be regretting the first red. It's clear, from various decisions over the past few weeks, that referees are attempting to stop players flying into challenges that can and do cripple opponents.
The failure to red card Malbranque was a double shame because he went on to score Spurs' decisive second goal, directly influencing the result.
I was forced to listen to Mark Lawrenson ranting on about how the referee had ruined the match by sending Zokora off. If only I had a fiver for every time I've been told I've ruined the match for showing the red card. Lawrenson belongs to the players' club that believes it's fine to break every law of football.
Unfortunately my television license fee pays part of his wage so I wish he'd engage brain before mouth. How about complimenting Bennett on two excellent spots of players' diving in the penalty area.

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