re: Tuesday 3/5 Match Thread

quote:

---

I just want to say that this incident is really not much different from the nigel de jong vs xabi alonso incident. Both involved players going for the ball without "intent" to injure.

---

Intent is not a part of the equation. It's not like the infamous vague handball rule. If intent was a function of the law, players could throw themselves at each other to get the ball, with little repercussion because they aren't "trying" to injure each other.

See my post from the "Tonight Was a Disgrace" thread.

quote:

---

quote:

---

Any player who lunges at an opponent when challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent, is guilty of serious foul play.

---

Source: Laws of the Game

The ref deemed Nani's challenge as one of excessive force and endangering of Arbeloa's safety. Therefore, the call is correct. It could be argued that there was not excessive force behind Nani's challenge, but there is not an argument that it wasn't dangerous.

---

There is no way that De Jong's challenge wasn't excessive, or dangerous.