The 2012/2013 Champions League Thread

[Sanguine]

It is a harsh sending off, but I can see that little ‘flick’ too.

I don’t think it was a red card. But in essence the challenge - player clearly going for the ball, misses it completely and hits his opponent studs up – well plenty of such tackles have been argued strongly on here as being a ‘definite red’. Which shows how difficult the decision is, and how the rules are open to interpretation.

[jd82]

Based on the above it seems like the challenge was careless. Nothing more than a high foot that you get.

Bad decisions went both ways as is the norm but we still had enough chances to win the game. Got to take your chances.

Looked careless rather than excessive force to me too. But you're right, Utd had chances to win the tie 11 v 11

On a seperate but related note, why is Lopez "double fisting" Vidic in the head not even mooted as a penalty?

[creative_username_1]

Was just thinking this has got to be one of the most potentially dangerous areas of football. A goalkeeper punching the ball is going to be near players heads, it's also acceptable for goalkeepers to 'clear' players out

Personally think the game has gone a little bit soft

[soggy biscuit]

There are longer clips on youtube of the red card incident and if you go back a second or 2 before the clip starts that I posted on here then Nani looks round to see the player, the ref is also looking towards where the incident takes place at this point I believe.

[Sanguine]

Suarez's challenge on Begovic an example of a similar decision going the other way.

Ball came over Suarez's head and bounced up, Suarez missed it and his boot connected with Begovic's leg. Same incident in essence, albeit a different contact point. Suarez wasn't sent off, many on here thought he should have been.

It's not an exact science - if you go in hard with the boot raised and miss the ball, there's a chance you'll be red carded. I don't like it, but them's the rules.

[windermere_royal]

2011 RVP sent off against Barcelona for taking a shot after the whistle had gone for offside, did Wenger throw a paddy and refuse to speak to the press?..no
Fergie is a pathetic man, always happy when decisions go his way, but throws his toys out of the pram when they don`t

[Royal Rother]

Rather than "refusing to talk to the press" I suspect it was more a case of "better not speak to the press whilst still raging..."

[TBM]

9 months ban - just saying.........

[Silver Fox]

It would never have happened if the Palace hadn't let that fat United kid take their end unopposed

[Man Friday]

Suarez's challenge on Begovic an example of a similar decision going the other way.

Ball came over Suarez's head and bounced up, Suarez missed it and his boot connected with Begovic's leg. Same incident in essence, albeit a different contact point. Suarez wasn't sent off, many on here thought he should have been.

It's not an exact science - if you go in hard with the boot raised and miss the ball, there's a chance you'll be red carded. I don't like it, but them's the rules.

But he didn't go in "hard", did he?

It's called "football" for a reason. He has every right to try to bring the ball under control with his FOOT. If the other player goes steaming in with his head or chest, that's his lookout.

[Man Friday]

2011 RVP sent off against Barcelona for taking a shot after the whistle had gone for offside, did Wenger throw a paddy and refuse to speak to the press?..no
Fergie is a pathetic man, always happy when decisions go his way, but throws his toys out of the pram when they don`t

Hasn't hindered his bonus pay though, has it?

[Man Friday]

My initial reaction is based on what I think football should be like rather than what the laws of the game actually are. I wish that sort of thing didn't result in a red as it just edges football more and more towards being a non contact sport but by the laws of the game intent doesn't matter, it was deemed dangerous/reckless and so was a red. fair enough.

If it was the other way around the Man Utd players would have been crowding around the ref waving imaginary cards so I have no sympathy whatsoever with them. Rafael also handballed it on the line and they got away with it.

Decades worth of bullying refs, diving, cheating etc leaves you feeling little sympathy for Man Utd

Saw this on Twitter last night -



seems reckless is a yellow, and a red is only issued for excessive force. Why the pundits don't know/have access to this, prefering to guess, is beyond me.

Thanks for this. Clinches it, and Keane was wrong (not that the other pundits could argue against him using evidence). Still, he's not bitter with Ferguson is he?

[Avon Royal]

It's called "football" for a reason

Presumably the same reason it's not called "footchest"..........

[windermere_royal]

Fergie`s got a short memory, Eboue got sent off for this, he said it was a 100% red, where is the Arsenal player looking?

[creative_username_1]

Fergie`s got a short memory, Eboue got sent off for this, he said it was a 100% red, where is the Arsenal player looking?

Eboue's going to head it Nani was going to control it with his foot. Different situation

[Sanguine]

Suarez's challenge on Begovic an example of a similar decision going the other way.

Ball came over Suarez's head and bounced up, Suarez missed it and his boot connected with Begovic's leg. Same incident in essence, albeit a different contact point. Suarez wasn't sent off, many on here thought he should have been.

It's not an exact science - if you go in hard with the boot raised and miss the ball, there's a chance you'll be red carded. I don't like it, but them's the rules.

But he didn't go in "hard", did he?

It's called "football" for a reason. He has every right to try to bring the ball under control with his FOOT. If the other player goes steaming in with his head or chest, that's his lookout.

Definition of "hard" aside, I was pointing out the similarity to that Suarez challenge, where he had a foot raised going for the ball but missed it. In that case, some on here considered it a nasty challenge. Shows these decisions aren't clean cut.

[Sanguine]

So, Barca have awoken from their ‘slump’ then.

Do like this stat – thanks to Jordi Alba’s late goal, all three Barcelona games played during a papal conclave have ended 4-0.

Bayern (obviously) and Malaga to qualify tonight.

[Ascotexgunner]

Cmon Munich tear those Gooner sad f*ckers a new one.

[SLAMMED]

Arsenal equalise. Make's for an interesting finale

[SLAMMED]

Or not