Yes, it was an ugly challenge, but the player should not be judged by the effect of his challenge, but the intent. Players' legs have been broken many times; generally, the injury is not the result of a foul, but of mis-timing or even a player not committing himself fully.
Yesterday, Martin Taylor went for the ball, but it wasn't there. Eduardo was too good for him and flicked it away. But Eduardo's leg was still there and Taylor caught him with his upturned boot. There's the offence. The raised boots, which spear the stufs into an opponents' leg. the flat boot will nto cause anywhere near the same damage.
Studs up is an offence referees have been trying - unsuccessfully- to stamp out for years. Studs are raised all the time when no player is near the ball. It's just that players forget that they must not do it when going into a 50-45 tackle. That's where Taylor has to accept whatever he has coming to him.
However, Arsene Wenger's hysterical reaction was childish and intemperate. His withdrawal of his statement that Taylor should be banned for life was quite possibly only made on the order of Arsenal's lawyers.
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