I'm not one to support cheating but I have to say that our Robert did himself and the team no favours when he stood out of his goal inviting the referee to give him his marching orders tonight. Had he kept his wits about him, Green would have stayed on the ground, feigning a serious injury, giving Capello the chance to substitute him ahead of the probable red card or allowing the referee the opportunity to deem a yellow sufficient given the natural justice of a possible serious injury.
Imagine Lehmann in that situation or that bastard German who took out the French guy in the World Cup back in Platini's playing days. It would have been a good five minutes before either were able to climb groggily to their feet. But not our Robert. He was up straight away and stood waiting for the card, making the decision to send him off so easy. Perhaps he didn't fancy going to South Africa after all or, more likely, he maybe isn't the brightest cookie in the jar!
I suspect that you are refering to the infamous Harald Schumacher 'tackle' on Patrick Battison during the 1982 World Cup.
ReplyDeleteFor 'tackle' read 'assault' when Schumacher attempted to detach Battison's head from the rest of his body. Battison was carried off in a coma with a dislocated jaw, broken vertebrae and his teeth scattered all over the pitch.
Schumacher should have been charged with attempted murder, let alone red carded. As it was, absolutely unbelievably the Dutch ref didn't even award a free kick!
The worst refereeing decision I have ever seen in my life.
Absolutely agree, although the WORST decision saw Tony Gale sent off in that FA Cup semifinal!
ReplyDeleteThe point is, Schumacher (how could I forget a name like that?) stayed on the ground "injured", so making it look like a collision rather than an assault. It might not have worked, but Green should have tried the same trick.
In case anyone thinks I'm exagerating the severity of Schumacher's assault I'm posting a link to YouTube:
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/watch?v=t1sAM4-1LHc&feature=player_embedded
The view from behind the goal clearly shows that Schumacher made no attempt to get to the ball but had made his mind up from the outset to get the man.
Platini is quoted as saying that he believed Battison was dead at the time.
Sorry but anyone who does a frog is alright by me
ReplyDelete1520, the incident is absolutely infamous for anybody old enough to remember it. The only challenge I have seen to compare was Kuyt's two footed lunge through the air in last season's Everton v Liverpool game (or was it the season before?). Amazingly, Clattenbung, who missed two nailed on Everton penalties in the game, did not consider the challenge worthy of a red. God only knows how he arrived at that decision, unless he was paid to ensure Liverpool won the game. I am not stating this was the case of course; but I will say that I have NEVER seen a refereeing performance to compare with this one: EVERY decision where there was scope for interpretation, went in favour of Liverpool - and I speak as somebody who wanted Liverpool to win the fixture!
ReplyDeleteDo you think Di Michele was right to dive against Liverpool then?
ReplyDelete