Two cautions for Dutch players during KFTM, it seems. So I think that's 17. 2 during KFTM 2 bench personnel 1 substitute (who then came on) 12 during dynamic play
Final thoughts on this one: This felt like watching a game refereed by one of the assignors “good ole boys” that wasn’t prepared. Idk anything about this ref but it seemed like he was trying to be a little too creative and determined to not have a send off. That may have not been his fault mind you. We know there are instructions given we never get to hear. But this had that feel of a game that was just begging to end and everyone involved was just sort of frustrated with how it was handled.
Except most of us don't referee professional games broadcast on tv. Use the line all of the time, this is not a pro/the mls - so yes thats a foul at this level.
Devil's Advocate, alluded to above... he also presided over one of the most memorable World Cup KO matches in a generation (or two). And no one thinks he decided the outcome either way. Genuinely interested to know how Mateu Lahoz feels after that one. There must be so much conflict within him.
Why was Messi on the pitch still? It seems so transparent to me as a relatively objective observer. 1 intentional handball + 1 intentional foul = ? What would Messi have to do to be subject to the same rules as the other players?
I really am surprised that you say your players will imitate these antics. I can understand players referring to previous decisions made for/against them by your referee peers in other games and holding that against you. But outside of annoying dissent and crowding the ref, I really don’t see any other foul play antics get copied by players, and especially not specific incidents like the Paredes blasting the ball into the bench
The idea that THAT type of behavior is somehow what drives similar behavior at the lower levels just doesn’t pass the laugh test for me and is betrayed by the fact that we find it so egregious and rare. I get the arguments that kids dive or dissent because they see pros do it. No pushback there. But your local U16 player is going to suddenly blast a ball into the technical area because they saw it once on a Friday afternoon on TV and it didn’t get a red card? Not buying it. It a kid or an adult amateur does this, it’s because he’s an asshole. Send him off. End of story.
Jesus. C’mon. EDIT: and as if he would have been sent off for dissent with a 2CT if he was somehow on one. This is a real argument? Look what Berghuis did and Mateu let him skate. But we are sending off Messi for dissent before extra time. That’s insane.
He didn’t lose control at all really. The bench ball blasting was really the only potential issue. Everything else was pretty much handled correctly
We've seen this movie enough times already to know that giving a red does not magically take all the temperature out of a game.