http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/08/01/usa-u19-bahrain-fight-brawl-cotif-tournament-spain Bahrain player kicks ball into head of player on the ground after a foul. Curious if anyone saw the game - how was the refereeing?
If you're going to go after the guy that kicked the ball into the head, at least go AFTER him. Running up, shoving him down and then letting him stand there untouched smirking just was stupid.
I wonder if there's any lesson for referees here. Obviously that isn't something you anticipate in most cases, but he seemed very slow to react.
Yes, I was a little disappointed that the major offender that started the whole thing just kind of snuck out and stayed in the back and didn't get involved. Those US players need to learn how to dish out some street justice a little bit better than that.
One lesson is how hard it is to keep track of the instigator--the players couldn't even do it. I hope he got his RC. Second, his slow reaction seemed to be more a matter of disbelieving his own eyes--or not seeing what really happened. He keeps tracking play, until the US players draw his attention back upfield. I have never found the advice to 'expect the unexpected' to be of much use; but, that seems to be the lesson here.
I don't really have a problem with the referee. I think he does what he needs to do (IMHO) which is triangulate and stay out of the fight. The trip, whistle, ball into head all happen in a split second. Neither team covered itself in glory. And he truly isn't very far from the scene. What would you like him to do?
I would like the referee to more quickly identify the instigator of the incident and single him out so that the opposing players know that he will be dealt with accordingly. However, in this particular incident, the US players themselves apparently don't know who that guy was because after he gets pushed down he simply gets up and walks away without ever being dealt with again.
Why in the world would you kick a soccer ball into someones head? I'm sure there is more to it than that though. I didn't read the article but I'm hoping he was suspended.
Honestly, I don't think the guy intended to hit him in the head, it was almost one second from when the guy hit the ground to when the ball hit him in the head, I honestly don't think that was intentional.
There isn't any doubt that this was intentional. He goes out of his way to blast the ball into his face. If he wasn't, what possible reason would he have to blast the ball into that direction? Also, the normal reaction of a player would be to stop. This guy continues to run upfield as if nothing happened.
The players know the difference. The reaction of the US players is telling. Players provide a lot of information for referees! Reading the players is an art form and skill all referees need to develop. PH
Because of the suddenness of the play, that was MY first reaction too. He couldn't possibly have meant to do that. It's human nature to HOPE that was an accident. But, almost all,of us have been on the field and something has occurred that gives us a big WHAT WAS THAT? moment. Yeah, he meant it. Unfortunately. Nothing worse than a u19B match that's the last game of the season with nothing to play for.
Looks like Mr. Referee is getting ready to pull a yellow (front chest pocket) for the kick. That seems woefully inadequate for that to me.
Odd that this incident makes me realize it, but I think most top-level Spanish referees (if not all, actually) keep their red card in their chest pocket. I just searched YouTube for some of the more famous La Liga red cards in recent years and all of them involve a red coming from the top pocket (either directly or by way of a book being produced first). I would guess that there is some sort of instruction or strong direction in Spain not to use the back pocket. With that said, I think the timing of the reach for the pocket indicates he was reacting to the initial foul and probably going yellow. And for those saying this is not intentional or not worthy of a red... forget the reactions for a moment (and the context from the match we might--quite obviously--be unaware of). Why is that player drilling that ball, that hard, in that direction? What was he going to accomplish if the opponent's head wasn't in the way?
My reactions and comments from seeing the video: 1. The trip was definitely worth a yellow. Pretty obvious hard tackle. 2. The US players chasing after the player... I don't even... 3. The referee in this situation did exactly what he should have, taken up a position forming a triangle with his benchside AR and (probably) his 4th Official since this was an international match. 4. Hopefully those involved get justice, even if it is retroactively.
I saw a ref yesterday ( can't remember which game) caution a player and when the player started protesting, he took the red out of the back pocket.... And put it in the Brest pocket. The conversation ended in mid sentence.
There's a video floating around of an African game that this happens. Personally I keep both up top. Yellow left, red right.
In Spain it's definitely an instruction/tradition to keep your red and yellow cards in your breast pockets. There are exceptions, but most do that. Here is a decades worth of stupidity by Sergio Ramos getting sent off by various Spanish referees. Most of the referees have their red cards in their breast pockets. On a side note, it's quite amazing that Undiano Mallenco has been giving Serguo Ramos red cards for a solid decade now.