[MassachusettsRef]

Here is the press release regarding Joao Pinto's suspension:

http://www.fifa.com/Service/MR_M/41299_E.html

I am very surprised that the suspension is not longer. The 6 month ban from all activity for punching the referee seems short in my mind, especially with the partial ban, as play for his club team is barely affected. Moreover, there are absolutely no ramifications for him at the national team level.

Typically, FIFA suspends players receiving red cards in their competitions from either the next FIFA competition or the next confederational competition. In this case, Portugal's next meaningful matches are at EURO 2004 (in Portugal). According to this press release, Pinto is allowed to play at EURO04, which is a joke to me. A 6 month ban for the assault seems short to begin with, but has FIFA forgotten about the atrocious tackle that led to his send off? That tackle alone--based on suspensions handed out in WC98--was worth a 3 game suspension--minimum. Marquez of Mexico got a 4 match suspension (from international play) for his headbutt to Cobi Jones and I would argue that Pinto's tackle was far more dangerous of a play.

If you think about it for a second, a 6 month ban sounds bad, but how many matches will Pinto actually miss? None with the national team. And maybe, what, 4-5 with his club team? All of which are at the beginning of the season. The more I think about this punishment, the more ridiculous it seems.

FIFA could have banned him from all soccer for one calendar year and tacked on a 3 match suspension in EURO 2004 for the tackle and I don't think anyone (outside of fiercely partisan Portuguese fans) would have felt the sentence was harsh.

[Preston McMurry]

It has nothing to do with doing what is morally required. It's all politics. Doubtless there is some sort of quid pro quo with FIFA / Sepp Blatter ...

[nas2nj]

I agree the ban could have been harsher,but to thing politics had something to do with it.

Believe me Portugal is to small a country to win the political games.

I think there were other things overlooked at the WC2002

[blech]

Originally posted by MassachusettsRef
Here is the press release regarding Joao Pinto's suspension:

http://www.fifa.com/Service/MR_M/41299_E.html

I am very surprised that the suspension is not longer. The 6 month ban from all activity for punching the referee seems short in my mind, especially with the partial ban, as play for his club team is barely affected.
***
Marquez of Mexico got a 4 match suspension (from international play) for his headbutt to Cobi Jones and I would argue that Pinto's tackle was far more dangerous of a play.
***
The more I think about this punishment, the more ridiculous it seems.
***

I don't agree that the Pinto tackle was more dangerous than the Marquez headbutt, but I wholeheartedly agree that this is extremely soft. And, as the article makes clear, it's not even 6 months, but really only 4 (2 of which, July and August, are offseason). I also thought that at least a year would be appropriate and would probablly have voted for significantly more than that if I was in charge.

As for why, I can only wonder if they viewed it merely as a "light" or "soft" punch. If I recall correctly, I was watching the game and didn't even realize that there was a punch, only hearing or reeading about it after the fact. So, it wasn't like he laid the ref out (and, of course, the ref didn't do the typical Rivaldo dive to draw attention to the incident). We all know the rule is don't touch the refs -- ever -- but I wonder if they viewed it as more of a touch, than a punch.

Also, is it possible that he still has the two-game ban from international competition for the redcard and that this only relates to the referee incident? I thought this was mandatory unless they make an exception.

[MassachusettsRef]

Originally posted by blech
Also, is it possible that he still has the two-game ban from international competition for the redcard and that this only relates to the referee incident? I thought this was mandatory unless they make an exception.

I was thinking that too, but the end of the article says that the incident leading up to the send off was taken into account. So, I assume, unfortunately, that there is no additional sanction for the tackle itself.

[Alberto]

Actually, you can't see the punch because the camera was in tight with a shot at shoulder height of Sanchez, Pinto and company.

I bet the pleading by Eusebio and others along with no prior history of this type of misconduct on Pinto's part had a lot to do with the length of the suspension. As MassRef points out, Pinto misses 4-5 club matches and several preparatory matches for the fall season. This is a case of the punishment not equal to the crime. Personally, Pinto should have been suspended for 6 months. Therefore, he should have been next able to play in January of 2003. An unjust decision. FIFA needs to be clear no violence against referees will be tolerated and will result in lengthy suspensions.

[MassachusettsRef]

As you say, Alberto, I'm mad about the the assault. However, as you and others point out, the evidence isn't conclusive there. What I'm most upset about is the tackle. That play, by itself, is the worst foul I've ever seen. And, to have it happen at the WC level is ridiculous. Pinto--and I'm talking about for just the tackle--should have been forced to miss the first round of EURO04. The assault should be a separate issue.

[Alberto]

Originally posted by MassachusettsRef
As you say, Alberto, I'm mad about the the assault. However, as you and others point out, the evidence isn't conclusive there. What I'm most upset about is the tackle. That play, by itself, is the worst foul I've ever seen. And, to have it happen at the WC level is ridiculous. Pinto--and I'm talking about for just the tackle--should have been forced to miss the first round of EURO04. The assault should be a separate issue.

I would love to have an opportunity to read the official match report. The fact that Eusebio and the president of the Portugese Football Confederation went to the referees dressing room to plead mercy on Pinto's part says ton's about his culpability. Personally, I have seen worse tackles. It is a very bad tackle and was worthy of a send off, but just in this world cup alone, I would say the following fouls were equal to Pinto's scissor tackle. Marquez head butt of Jones or the subsequent play in the corner when a Mexican player stomped on the back of Jones leg. Each foul was potentially career ending.

I will say Pinto's tackle should be on any subsequent FIFA or USSF referee clinic video as an exmple of a scissors tackle.

By the way, Roy Keane has produced some of the worst tackles of any major footballer I have ever had the disgrace to see.

[nas2nj]

Originally posted by MassachusettsRef
As you say, Alberto, I'm mad about the the assault. However, as you and others point out, the evidence isn't conclusive there. What I'm most upset about is the tackle. That play, by itself, is the worst foul I've ever seen. And, to have it happen at the WC level is ridiculous. Pinto--and I'm talking about for just the tackle--should have been forced to miss the first round of EURO04. The assault should be a separate issue.

Personally, I think that it was a TERRIBLE foul and the more I saw it the worse I thought it was, but for you to say that it was the worse foul you ever saw doesn't say much about you as a referee.

[nas2nj]

Now I have a question for this forum, what do the referee's get for shut poor officiating???

They cost some teams the opportunity to advance.
On some occasions, it actually looked like they were getting money in there pockets.

It was a terrible WC and alot of it had to do with the poor officiating by the refs.