Question Number: 22647

League Specific 12/15/2009

RE: Adult

Scott of Vancouver, BC Canada asks...

Was the correct call made in the incident of Mainz 05 vs VfB Stuttgart involving Jens Lehmann?

Was it worthy of a Red Card? And was the correct decision a penalty kick? Or should it have been an indirect free kick?

The match was played Sunday, December 13th 2009.

Thanks

I attach a link to the video if you were unaware.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAfkcKoq7oo&feature=related

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

There is little doubt the player made sure the referee would notice but it was an absolute idiotic act of stupidity on the part of Lehmann to bump and step on the players foot. We can speculate on whether something was said or an earlier incident but the red card for useless violent conduct of stomping an opponent is 100% correct!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Hi Scott, I am in Vancouver too. Fans of Jens would vehemently deny wrongdoing claiming it was just an incidental step on a foot. But can you imagine if nothing is done? I have seen it all too often right here in Vancouver: the referee looses control because the players take the law in their hands. So what can a referee do: caution or eject?
This is physical violence in soccer. Sure the player made a meal of it but nonetheless Lehman crunched his foot with his weight on it. If the referee allows the keeper to stay on the pitch by giving him a mellow yellow Lehman will be a marked man. A recipe for a brawl.
It is clearcut to me that Lehman deserved to be sent off.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
This in my opinion was a 100% correct decision by the referee. Lehmann went out of his way to step on the player's foot and I agree with Referee Dawson that we can speculate there was 'history' there between the players. That is also a factor to be taken into account by the referee who is close to the actions and he picks up these vibes between players.
Also Lehmann has been involved in these type of incidents before so this does not surprise me.
Well Done Referee Wolfgang Stark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se2h0GCMozA&feature=related