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Not for me. Not excusing Muller's actions Pepe had to stoop down to waist level (Muller was sitting) just so he could attempt the butt.

While contact was minimal, it still was a "violent act" and IMO worthy of a red. The fact there were very few protests (if any) by the rest of his team mates highlights that a red was probably right.

The law doesn't need to change, player attitudes need to change.

it was an "intentional act" but violent? I really don't see it... I only think there were no complaints by his team mates because the rulebook is very black and white about that sort of thing

Thing I don't get is that Pepe must have know he was always going to get sent off so why didn't he just sink the boot into Mueller whilst he was on the ground and get his money's worth?

It was stupidity on Pepe's part - why run the risk of getting a red card by reacting the way he did. His reputation precedes him quite similar to his Madrid team mate Sergio Ramos who is also prone to provocation.

The rules are fine as they are. The intent to harm is there regardless of how hard the headbutt is and it's a straight red. When Muller went down the referee didn't even blow for a foul but Pepe's arrogance and stupidity to act the "big man" and try and confront Muller got him sent off which is exactly what the German wanted.

comment by Kav H (U19426)
The intent to harm is there regardless of how hard the headbutt is and it's a straight red.

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I don't think there was any intention of Pepe to harm Muller, as Benched said, he could have dealt out some proper damage if he actually wanted to!

The only way to rid the game of it is for zero tolerance. It's exactly why diving is still rife because it goes unpunished.

If you want to head butt you may as well do it like Zidane. Either way you're getting sent off. Very stupid of Pepe not to do that to muller. He's got the most annoying face in football.

The guy is a joke and he's lucky not to be banned from World football forever.

And as for Pepe..............

Definite for me - of course he wasn't going to injure Müller, but it's still violent conduct. Spitting for example is never going to injure someone, but it's still a red and rightly so.

And as for Pulis on 5Live las night saying that it was a bad decision and the ref should do his best to keep it 11 vs 11 - shut up you absolute , that is not the ref's job, it's the players' responsibility not to do anything that could get them sent off, the ref is there to enforce the laws of the game.

comment by Sömeday_693 - Källström will be our salvation (U8892)
posted 1 minute ago
Definitefor me - of course he wasn't going to injure Müller, but it's still violent conduct. Spitting for example is never going to injure someone, but it's still a red and rightly so.

And as for Pulis on 5Live las night saying that it was a bad decision and the ref should do his best to keep it 11 vs 11 - shut up you absolute, that is not the ref's job, it's the players' responsibility not to do anything that could get them sent off, the ref is there to enforce the laws of the game.
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well said, he was lucky to get away with a sending off. what message does this send out to the young kids.

absolute disgrace of a human being.

I don’t know why footballer don’t do the trick you did in school where one of your mates kneels down behind the player pretending to tie his shoelace while another player accidently bumps into him, sending him tumbling. Non-violent and would be hilarious to watch

comment by Arsene Wengooner (U6031)
posted 5 minutes ago
The only way to rid the game of it is for zero tolerance. It's exactly why diving is still rife because it goes unpunished.

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I guess this makes sense. I just think of all those times you see in the PL where players square up to each other, foreheads touch shouting/glaring at each other. Following the letter of the law the ref should send them both off but normally they just get a yellow each and told to grow up and get on with it, which personally I prefer

V

In any walk of life or sport, if someone stands over you with their forehead pressed against your own (I image Pepe wasn’t whispering sweet nothings to Muller either) it is fair to say they are being excessively aggressive. And as such he left the referee with no other option but to send him off.

If Pepe had done that on the street he could be prosecuted for assault (even though the “victim” was completely unharmed).

Pepe should just be sent off straight after kick-off to save time.

Have a look at some of Pepe's previous misdemeanours on Youtube for which he has been sent off and it's fair to say this was a nothing red card in comparison. Doesn't change the fact it was still a red due to violent conduct regardless of how hard his head has gone into Mullers.

How often do we see Rugby players behaving like that on the field screaming, abusing and pointing towards players and the referee - not very. It happens because FIFA and the referees allow it to. These players are paid enough and should be well aware that there are millions watching and they should keep their anger in check even in a world cup situation. Any sort of nonsense on the field from headbutting to kicking and slapping players is a straight red card. Simple.

I remember when 2 players were getting a bit argy-bargy in a six nations game this year, Nigel Owens called them to one side and basically took the pi$s out of them and effectively called them little girls. He had a mic on too so everyone listening at home could hear what he was saying. The players were embarrassed. Bring that into football, that would sort it.

comment by Kav H (U19426)
posted 12 seconds ago
Have a look at some of Pepe's previous misdemeanours on Youtube for which he has been sent off and it's fair to say this was a nothing red card in comparison. Doesn't change the fact it was still a red due to violent conduct regardless of how hard his head has gone into Mullers.

How often do we see Rugby players behaving like that on the field screaming, abusing and pointing towards players and the referee - not very. It happens because FIFA and the referees allow it to. These players are paid enough and should be well aware that there are millions watching and they should keep their anger in check even in a world cup situation. Any sort of nonsense on the field from headbutting to kicking and slapping players is a straight red card. Simple.
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Quite. Personally public execution is the only deterrent.

What's interesting to me is that Muller got no punishment either (or at least I didn't see it!). If we're being fully 'PC' then screaming in someone's face is little better than what Pepe did; certainly a yellow card.

comment by Wild_ Rover (U5211)
posted 2 seconds ago
I remember when 2 players were getting a bit argy-bargy in a six nations game this year, Nigel Owens called them to one side and basically took the pi$s out of them and effectively called them little girls. He had a mic on too so everyone listening at home could hear what he was saying. The players were embarrassed. Bring that into football, that would sort it.
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I'd definitely be in favour of mic-ing up refs, it would clarify a lot of decisions and hopefully eliminate the matey/awe-struck attitudes I suspect a lot of refs have with players and reduce any disrespect that flies the other way.

comment by Kav H (U19426)
posted 3 minutes ago

How often do we see Rugby players behaving like that on the field screaming, abusing and pointing towards players and the referee - not very.

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yes but it's not quite comparable as rugby players take their aggression out on the opposition during the game and sometimes they do push other players when they're pi$sed off and things like tackle an opponent and rub their face in the ground in the process... a blind-eye is turned to that kind of behaviour in rugby but if that happened in football there would be outrage.

But I get your point about their respect towards refereeing decisions and not arguing with the officials.

I actually think a yellow card would have been fine.

Technically it was a red card offence but, since it wasn't dangerous, I think the referee should have used his discretion to keep it 11 v 11 & maintain the integrity of the result.

I was probably the only person who defended Howard Webb after the 2010 WC Final for not sending off De Jong for kicking Xabi Alonso. Ruining a WC Final as a contest, for that incident, would have been wrong.

Sömeday

Giving mics to refs was trialed many years ago and was quickly ceased.

Unfortunately due to player’s language (being picked up on mic) all broadcast games would have to come with an 18 certificate.

I remember Tony Adams being caught calling a ref a effing cheat which was heard by all…