Question Number: 31238

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/8/2017

RE: Rec Adult

Russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31231

Mata tackle on Vardy - follow-up.

Ref's McHugh and Dawson suggest that possibly the ref had thought it is the hip from Mata (that creates the flip) that was the contact and why that may have reduced it to only a yellow (in the eyes/mind of the ref of the match).

I'd like to challenge that hip contact theory (i.e. the hip contact creates the flip - and not too much force) if I may.

I'd suggest that any body part that hits another player with a force that can make another body flip like that, in the manner that it did in this tackle is clear evidence of too much force.

With benefit of replays, Vardy looks to make a jump to avoid contact, yet still, even doing so, he is clipped with enough pace to be flipped.

Agree with the general consensus that 'reputation' may have played a part (Vardy knows how to dive but I don't think he at the the Olympic gymnastic level just yet).

As Ref Wright mentions, the amount of force used was far too high, and it makes me wonder what might have happened if Vardy did not jump as a way tho avoid contact. The fact that I might 'wonder' supports a consideration that the tackle probably was dangerous.

As is often remarked, it only matters what the Ref on the day thinks, still, as we all would know from experience " we can get our decisions wrong, and I throw my challenge to the hip theory out there, so as to gain more commentary and food for thought from the panel.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Russell,
there is no debate the match referee made a decision in real time, we theorized about what he might have been thinking but we do not know! We all agreed we could likely show a red card but realize we are biased from a video review. Sometimes even innocent collisions look spectacular. The tackle was not particularly late as a realistic effort and the force used was not the greatest of speeds. Yet if this video was used to demonstrate what is a red card event it likely fits the bill. It goes to point out that any SFP has to seen clearly by the referee while he renders an impartial decision based only on what he knows to be true. The question is what does he believe to be true, we only see our truth, not necessarily the truth.
Cheers