Four Red Cards in UEFA's Third Qualifying Round

Video Analysis: Four Red Cards in UEFA's Third Qualifying Round First Legs

On Saturday, August 01, 2015

Analysis of four red cards shown in last week's Champions League and Europa League Third Qualifying Round. There were more interesting situations last week, so this is only a small essence. What these cards have all in common: They were correct and serve as good examples for how things should or should not be like.

Collum sending off Schwab          

 

Situation 1: Rapid Wien - Ajax Amsterdam (William Collum and his assistant Francis Connor involved)

Without any doubt, Collum correctly sent off the Rapid player for his terrible two-feet-jumping-tackle on his opponent, which clearly and seriously endangered the latter's safety. The force of this challenge was excessive for sure making it a black-and-white case of serious foul play. 

The way Collum and his assistant referee Connor managed this situation deserves praise as well. Both showed immediate presence to prevent retaliation or a mass-confrontation following the tackle that was justifiably perceived as brutal by the non-offending team. Collum correctly protected the offender still being at the ground and approached by some furious Ajax players. Good preventive management for sure.

In such a case, the benefit from sorting out the red card as quickly as possible outweighs the circumstance that you should actually not raise a card against a player who is still on the ground. This means: A too late shown card involves the risk of forcing possible confrontations, while a card shown against a player who is still on the turf involves the risk of showing too little respect for his person, which was in this case less relevant and smaller. Conducting this weighing-up-process, Collum's player management was therefore justifiable and fully ok - in other, "normal" situations, never show a card to a player lying aground!

The only thing both match officials should be reminded on is the need to show presence in a determined, but nonetheless composed and deescalating way. Collum and Connor both sprinted to the situation, which has the chance to signalize assertiveness and preventive management, but can also inflame confrontations and heat up the situation unnecessarily. Same goes for Collum's repeated whistles and quite offensive gesture "Leave the field!". Additionally, referees should refrain from touching or even pushing players (too intensely).

On the whole, a well managed situation though.

Situation 2: Jablonec - Kobenhavn (Mattias Gestranius and his assistant Jan-Peter Aravirta involved)

Despite the poor video quality, you are very likely able to see that this tackle belongs to the most dangerous subtypes of serious foul play. Studs were shown in a stretched and almost jumped way, making strong, unfair contact with the defender's upper calf. A similar foul in German Bundesliga was once sanctioned with an 8-match-suspension. 

Also here, the officials' management was good. Gestranius quickly showed the red card after a whistle which could have been a bit more intense and longer. After quickly asking for medical treatment, he then attempted to deescalate the situation and, along with his assistant, slightly protected or shielded the player for a short time. Things became calmer after that. It should be noted that the assistant referee correctly supported the referee actively at first to ensure that the confrontation would not escalate too much, and later, as soon as it was clear that things had already calmed a bit down, moved into a more indirect "monitoring" position. 

In more escalating mass-confrontations, the nearest assistant referee should enter the field of play and support the referee directly. The other assistant referee should stay a bit more distant and monitor as well as record all events going on to be able to assist the referee later when it comes to issuing disciplinary sanctions against preferably both teams.

Situation 3: Panathinaikos - Club Brügge (Vladislav Bezborodov involved)

After two good examples, one not that positive example: Vladislav Bezborodov at first only issued a yellow card following the intense and forceful tackle by the Panathinaikos midfielder. Before the re-start of play, he however changed his mind, very likely following input of his assistant referee or the fourth official, and issued a red card. Technically, this is possible, but practically, it should be avoided of course. First discuss situations in your team, then decide! Not vice versa.

The tackle itself did not show any studs, but was nonetheless very hard in terms of its speed and intensity which should be deemed as excessive force that more or less clearly endangers the safety of the opponent. The criteria for serious foul play were fulfilled, or, in other words: This tackle was more than reckless.

Apart from the decision-changing-process, Bezborodov's player management and decision-communication were both not meeting the requirements:

1) When raising the yellow card, he still had his whistle in his mouth. Never do that. It does not show that much respect (more on that in another post in future). It also deprives yourself of the opportunity to communicate with the offender and to explain your decision.

2) After the red card decision, it was absolutely clear that the players would not understand what had just happened. Instead of explaining the procedure and decision, Bezborodov offensively yelled at the players, repeated the same gesture "Out!" again and again without effectiveness. He repeatedly walked away from the players some metres but they still followed him protesting.

Instead, he should have taken his time to shortly but efficiently explain the decision to the Panathinaikos captain while expressing determination at the same time. Of course, if they continue to protest, it is justified to refrain from too long explanations and even to caution any of the players / the most actively protesting player with a yellow card.

Situation 4: Dinamo Zagreb - Molde FK (Serge Gumienny, assistant Jimmy Cremers and fourth official Christof Dierick involved)

Serge Gumienny correctly dismissed an already substituted player for abusive and insultive gestures against the supporters. As he already did that when he was still on the field of play, maybe the officials should have noticed it earlier which would have had effects on the planned and ongoing substitution and number of players. All officials should stay concentrated at all times during a substitution - if you spot a player making such gestures on the field of play, then send him off immediately.
The decision itself nonetheless deserves compliment as it well mirrors the referee's fulfilled duty to protect the good of football and keep insultive and abusive conduct out of the game.