definitely a fan , "I didn't touch him ref". If he wasn't touched then it shouldn't be a foul then, is that what you are saying?Second he wasn't touched
Not touching the opponent is absolutely not a bar to issuing a yellow card. It's still an offence (and if reckless, which this was, a cautionable offence) to kick or attempt to kick, or to trip or attempt to trip an opponent. Maitland-Niles lost the ball, lunged recklessly at an opponent in trying to retrieve it and was justifiably cautioned for it (IMHO). I actually thought the first yellow was more questionable.Second he wasn't touched as pointed out by Sky.
Tbf the Rooney one could have been a red card with or without contact. Out of control. Excessive force. Player safety endangered. Tick tick tick..Not touching the opponent is absolutely not a bar to issuing a yellow card. It's still an offence (and if reckless, which this was, a cautionable offence) to kick or attempt to kick, or to trip or attempt to trip an opponent. Maitland-Niles lost the ball, lunged recklessly at an opponent in trying to retrieve it and was justifiably cautioned for it (IMHO). I actually thought the first yellow was more questionable.
Remember this one? No contact and still a wholly justifiable yellow card - admittedly Maitland-Niles' attempted kick/trip wasn't quite as bad as this but the principle that contact is not required for a yellow card, still holds.
Completely disagree that the second caution was reckless, I kind of agree with Souness (for once) that Maddison rolling around in fake pain has probably sold it to Oliver.
I've only seen the first half highlights but while the first could perhaps be seen as a tiny bit soft, Michael Oliver seemed to be indicating he was taking other offences into consideration