Ok, reason for post was other than its a good clip, its the first pro gams in a million years I been to and not had any involvment in, purely a neutral spectator
real time, at the challenge, there was a collective " oft" from the crowd, the wincing noise you make internally as referee when you see an awful tackle.
The home team manager had head in hands and the tech area went into deep discussion, as if they were prepared for the red
the offending player for me expected the red, and whilst her apologetic actions are genuine, they were more a last ditch attempt to plead for leniency
The away tech area stood watching patiently, not harassing the fourth etc, just looking on
I think what am saying is, beimg removed from the situation, I experienced the expectation, the atmosphere of all around was, this is a red
Upon producing the yellow, there was a collective, phew, from all concerned with the home side, including a youth coach sitting along from me who i know, who said, " she was lucky there"
The away tech area attitude now totally changed, they had fully expected red and were waiting for it, now, whilst still behaving reasonably, they demanded answers, how can being kicked at force square in the fizzer not be a red?
From 50 yards away high in the stand, I went red, and was surprised to see yellow, and nothing I have seen watching it back has changed my mind.
The fourth and Ar1 will have had same angle, all be it at ground level, to me, and AR2 had a clear view on it also,
Am thinking the delay in showing a card was due to ref trying to get input from the rest of her team.
Normally when we type, what football expects, its us reaching the expectation, it was interesting this time to be on the expectant side, allbeit the expectation was not matched by the referees actions!
in short, intentional or not, being booted full in face, effectively having your head, whilst standing upright, mistaken for the football itself, can only be endangering safety, throw in the speed and force of the kick, I really cannot establish how the officials classed this as merely reckless.
www.bbc.co.uk
