common sense prevails

At last the FA get something right!!!

Where does it end? Should we not apply the rules at an Under 11's game because sending a kid off might make him cry?

Rules are rules - if I was a Man City fan and the red card hadn't been issued so that people watching on Sky weren't bored, I'd be livid.

Rules are rules - if I was a Man City fan and the red card hadn't been issued so that people watching on Sky weren't bored, I'd be livid.

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Not for entertainment but a little discretion or common sense.

Players make mistakes and should be given a warning atleast, hence the yellow card.

If something is outrageously dangerous then yes a red should be given at any point.

But I dont think Kos deserved a red so early.

comment by Winston (U16525)

You can't refrain from issuing a card because it ruins the entertainment factor - that's just not practical or sensible.

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Agreed. Some chump called in to 5-Live after the game and argued that refs should consider that fans pay a lot of money to see games and therefore should make decisions accordingly (ie. don't give red cards if they think that it might detract from the entertainment value, certainly not early on in the game).

This, by the way, was his second point; the first being that he felt money was dictating football too much...

HNIC - Shogun Shinji (U5574)

You're entitled to your view, but it's not part of the rules and I think most people would be glad about that.

HNIC - Shogun Shinji (U5574)

You're entitled to your view, but it's not part of the rules and I think most people would be glad about that.

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From a rules perspective yes.

But if it happened to us I would also be upset if we didnt get the decision so I guess its easy being a neutral and say he shouldnt have been sent off.

Kompany was sent off early in the FA Cup last year against you, bet you wasn't complaining then, if it deserves a red card then I'm afraid it has to happen or else players will try and get away with it if they think they will!!

Nothing to do with entertainment or timing, it shouldn't have been a red card and it was rightly rescinded. It was still trial by TV though, if Hansen and co had backed the ref on MOTD then I reckon it would have stood.

Holding a player the way Koscielny did is cheating!!

Everybody goes on about diving, yet this holding & rugby tackling is even worst because every one is at it!!

Now that is something that does need to be looked at, any man handling in the area has to be an instant penalty.
The problem is when all this hands on players at corners or free kicks is happening the ball is not actually in play so the ref at the moment can't penalise the players.