Brutal tackle, Arsenal v. Birmingham (warning--gruesome)

[3sportref]

Any thoughts on this game? Specifically, the red card on Taylor (some are saying it didn't even warrant a yellow) and the PK given in the final minute of added time.

[WhatWouldSODo?]

Decision 4: A tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Please direct me to the individuals who don't think Taylor deserved even a yellow card, so that I may slap them with the LOTG.

[Craig P]

The result of that tackle is the prime example of why a studs-up tackle into the ankle is dangerous and should result in ejection, IMO.

[macheath]

Here's a poor quality video of a brutal tackle by Martin Taylor, Birmingham, against Eduardo da Silva, Arsenal. Eduardo's leg is shattered--ankle seems almost to come off the leg. Sorry for the poor quality here, but only one I could find with slo-mo showing how late Taylor is, and where and with what force he hits Eduardo's leg. How long should Taylor be banned for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq6jf1eDrLY

And here are some graphic, horrid closeups. Only reason to look at these is to remind people why the "studs up" rule is to be enforced (we had some discussion about this awhile back).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6X0zpNCDgU&feature=related

One depressing sidebar to this is the idiot commentary by some Brits on TV (superimposed during first video). "No real intent," blah blah. Steve Bruce of Wiagn said "He has mis-timed the tackle, and I've seen it. Some would say it is not even a yellow card." As I've said before, British matches seem to allow a much higher level of physical play, and commentators on games I watch are always minimizing fouls, criticizing refs who call them, etc.

[campton]

He neeeds fifty god damn game ban. That is atrocious and its against my gunners. How dare that low level crap player taylor throw down a tackle like that in the open field with no problems. The referee should have given him the red then spit in his face. I threw my remote at the TV when i watched it.

[Hate_Eternal]

What can I say, it was one of the brutalest and most idiotic tackles I have ever seen in my life, he basically drop kicked his shin!! Anyway, his cleat or foot should have never been that high off the ground and if it was on the ground it would have hurt Eduardo pretty bad but it wouldn't have resulted in what happened. Praying for a speedy recovery but after a break like that I don't know what will happen to his playing career.

[Sagy]

Any thoughts on this game? Specifically, the red card on Taylor (some are saying it didn't even warrant a yellow)
http://deadspin.com/assets/resources/2008/02/thisendsbadly.jpg
Exposed studs, halfway to the knee, no where near the ball.

Why shouldn't it be a red card?

[Rufusabc]

That picture tells the story.....the video I saw doesnt come close to illustrating as well as this shot. Eduardo is great little player, and I hope he comes back as strong as he was before the injury

About the extra time penalty. Yes, clearly a penalty. And if I hear one more player, announcer, parent, or fan say...yeah, but I/HE/She or It got the ball...I am going to scream. Where exactly does it say that if you get a piece of the ball everything else you do in the challenge suddenly becomes fine and dandy?

Also, there goes the SkySports Big Four conspiracy theorists jumping right out the window.

R

[Owen Gohl]

The YouTube links have been pulled. Here is a link that is still good as of 1140 EST:

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/eduardo/video/x4hd3k_birmingham-city-v-arsenal-230208-ed_sport

Lawrenson was a defender, primarily for Liverpool. I don't know who the other two people are. They seem to think the challenge was more clumsy than anything else.

[campton]

When does the fA board rule on suspensions.

[DerbyRam54]

As far as I can see, Martin Taylor will be automatically suspended for three matches. He has no previous suspensions or cautions this season. He has been something of a fringe player for Birmingham and was playing only his third match for them this season after being a regular when they were in the Championship.
Before joining Birmingham Taylor played for Blackburn where his manager Graham Souness felt he needed to be more aggressive if he was going to make any progress.
Taylor represented England once at the U-21 level in 2001.
While Taylor is clearly not a world-class player, I don't think he could accurately be described as a "low level crap player" and his career resume hardly marks him as a vicious defender. It was a terrible challenge, he fully deserved to be sent off but I am not sure he needs to be hung in the public square.
To be honest, I thought the comments made by the pundits on that video clip (the dailymotion one) weren't that far off the mark, though I would not agree with Steve Bruce's reported remarks. I think Steve Bruce was probably speaking out of some loyalty to one of his former players.
If you wish to learn more about the disciplinary process in England, you can visit the FA's web site at http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/

[3sportref]

Decision 4: A tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Please direct me to the individuals who don't think Taylor deserved even a yellow card, so that I may slap them with the LOTG.

I agree completely. But I have read some discussion that disagrees. The picture above is an excellent piece of evidence.

[DerbyRam54]

Martin Taylor has apparently been to visit Eduardo in hospital: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3191398,00.html
There's also a transcript of BBC pundit Alan Hansen's remarks at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7261383.stm

[campbed]

Wow, horrific result.

I have replayed the DailyMotion video several times, and I cannot agree with some of the opinions (emotional?) stated here. Poor tackle, foot went to where ball WOULD have been if not flicked away by Eduardo. Clearly Yellow or Red.

I didn't see any intent, just a Championship level defender getting owned by one of the Best Premiership players after being on the field for 3 minutes.

Having heard statements from his Championship coach that he was not aggressive enough to succeed in the Premiership, and hearing no history of nasty play, I think the fair thing to do is give him his suspension and the benefit of the doubt.

I can tell you this, if it was me, I would hold a press conference (with no questions) to state that I would not play again until Eduardo does. Honor comes from inside, not others.

Lets hope both players get right and get back on the pitch quickly.

[M]

How long should Taylor be banned for?


The three game suspension a red card receives.


One depressing sidebar to this is the idiot commentary by some Brits on TV (superimposed during first video). "No real intent," blah blah. Steve Bruce of Wiagn said "He has mis-timed the tackle, and I've seen it. Some would say it is not even a yellow card." As I've said before, British matches seem to allow a much higher level of physical play, and commentators on games I watch are always minimizing fouls, criticizing refs who call them, etc.

The commentators were spot on. There was no real intent to cause injury; it was a mistimed challenge with Eduardo just too quick for Taylor. The fact that Eduardo ended up with an horrific injury does not indicate that this was a tackle where Taylor went in with deliberate intent to injure.

[M]

Lawrenson was a defender, primarily for Liverpool. I don't know who the other two people are. They seem to think the challenge was more clumsy than anything else.

Alan Hansen and Gary Lineker.

[IASocFan]

I just merged the posts concerning this play from the Fullham - WHU game thread!

[DerbyRam54]

The three game suspension a red card receives.


Not all sending off offences get a three match suspension, denying a goal by deliberately handling the ball is a one match, for instance.
Taylor could get a longer suspension if he is charged with misconduct under FA rule E-3.

[DerbyRam54]

According to the Guardian, Taylor has been given the standard three match suspension. Eduardo is quoted as saying that "these things happen in football".
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2259909,00.html

[ctreferee]

for those who dont think taylor should have been red carded, what do you think would have happened to taylor next time he touched the ball? He was probably sent of just as much for his own safety as for the tackle. If you do not send that player off as a referee you are asking for a retaliation, and the game will go to hell very quickly