With the greatest respect Sunnyside, I think you're missing the point. Are we now saying that players can only attempt to control the ball IF AND ONLY IF It is on the ground! Clearly, all Ricahrds has tried to do is bring a bouncing ball under control, he has not done that when the opponent is directly in front of him and in his clear line of vision. The opposing player has competed for the ball from a side on position and in the course of making the challenge has come off second best. A free kick maybe, but personally I'm not even sure that was justified, but in my opinion ( and it appears that of Chris Hargreaves) there is absolutely no attempt made by Richards to harm the player, just an honest attempt to win the ball.Sunnysideup wrote:Well i've looked again at the highlights and would say on balance, it may well have been a booking. Had the same thing happened to one of our players in front of the pop side, where the opposition player has his foot knee high, with studs facing our player and catches him after missing the ball, the fans would have been venting their spleen at the officials for not even brandishing a yellow card (and yes, i know weve seen fouls worthy of a yellow that hasnt been given).
If a foul is worth a yellow card, its worth a yellow card. The fact that it's a 2nd has no bearing on if it gets waved again.
The game has become so much less physical over the years, most of which I agree has been for the good of the game, but let's not completely take away the physicality of what is after all supposed to be a competitive sport. if players are not allowed to try and make a genuine attempt to control a ball then before you know it the authorities will make it illegal to tackle and it will become a non contact sport altogether ...
