Question Number: 31707

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/14/2017

RE: Adult

engin ataman of olympia, Washington USA asks...

hello, i follow your website and check it out every now and then. I have a question about a certain soccer situation

https://twitter.com/SariTribunCom_/status/896816493178040320?s=08

referee's decision was yellow here. Debate is... should it be red or yellow is sufficient?

Your input is greatly appreciated. Thank you :)

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Egin,
hmmm my gut screams red however reluctant I am to criticize match referees. How did the players accept the decision? How did the rest of the match go? Was there a stern talking along with the card??? Although I can see no reason to mitigate to yellow as going into any tackle where your foot is directed into the chest of a player with studs showing behind an outstretched leg is a fatal injury possibility. Perhaps the referee COULD be thinking orangey in the sense the cleats did NOT directly contact into the chest as the foot kind of slid along the outside of the red player. The bulk of the leg was high & hinged across the chest. I am certain the white players' leg was torqued considerably but still what ever reasoning is there to make such a tackle that in my opinion SERIOUSLY endangers the safety of the opponent! Going into a tackle with outstretched leg at that height cleats exposed locked leg is at the risk of repeating my self a career ending event if it goes wrong! Check out this video about the idea of orangey to grasp my meaning of a red card event toned down slightly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNxtpW9zO1I&index=4&list=PLsAXIYtop5OuwuRbZmHjRVBsDfvZIzkhC


My mentor Esse has a decent video showing points of of consideration
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Engin
All down to the referee on the day. I recall in the ECL Nani of Manchester United getting sent off for something similar. Some felt it was harsh others felt it was justified.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYIR-HeTIs4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cWLq1-k4-Q
Both looked unintentional yet there is also a high risk of endangering the safety of an opponent which is a red card.
In this case it could go either way. I also do not like looking at incidents in isolation as other factors can have a bearing such a the spirit the game is being played in, the players behaviour up to that point, players playing style etc etc. For instance a kamikaze type player who leaps into every challenge recklessly would likely to get less benefit of the doubt than a player with impeccable demeanour.
So yes it could be red yet I could also see it getting a yellow in some cases