The FA’s decision to rescind the red card shown to Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul against Chelsea last weekend shines more light on a football law that had already come in for plenty of scrutiny recently.
Event of the past couple of weeks have left many in the football world calling for FIFA to reconsider law 12, which deals with denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. So is it time to end the triple punishment of red card, penalty and suspension?
Manchester City lost 0-2 at home against Barcelona after Martin Demichelis was red carded for denying Lionel Messi a goalscoring opportunity. Manuel Pellegrini will have to conjure a winning plan away at Camp Nou tomorrow night with a depleted defence.
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szcesney was sent-off the following night for fouling Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben in the first Champions League clash between the two sides. The Gunners went on to lose 0-2 and face a daunting task in trying to overturn the deficit without their first-choice goalkeeper, who is arguably the best keeper in England this season.
These Champions league ties may not be over but the game between Chelsea and Spurs was really ruined after this law was applied. Kaboul was adjudged to have fouled Samuel Eto’o in the box, so Spurs conceded a penalty. They lost the game and only today’s FA ruling has stopped him facing a three-match ban, which would have ruled him out of the north London derby this weekend.
This is an excerpt from the FIFA law 12 of fouls and misconduct:
“There are two sending-off offences that deal with denying an opponent an obvious opportunity to score a goal. It is not necessary for the offence to occur inside the penalty area. If the referee applies advantage during an obvious goalscoring opportunity and a goal is scored directly, despite the opponent’s handling the ball or fouling an opponent, the player cannot be sent off but he may still be cautioned.”
The law goes on to mention circumstances that referees should take into consideration before taking action.
As former referee Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports: “FIFA introduced this law because they want more goals.”
FIFA knows that the stakes in the modern game are higher. If this law is scrapped, last men will most likely foul an opponent and take the chance of a penalty rather than a certain goal.
By making this law so severe, FIFA gives defenders and goalkeepers two difficult choices. A last man can either let an opponent score or take the dreaded triple punishment.
Gus Poyet, the Sunderland manager, went as far as to question the footballing background of people involved in drafting that part of the law. For FIFA, this issue is not easy to solve.
There are strong cases from both sides: FIFA wants more goals and less cynicism to make the game more entertaining, while clubs on the receiving end of this law feel harshly treated.
It is sometimes hard to defend well and still obey this law. FIFA recently promised to look into the matter.
So, should FIFA bend to the club’s opinion? Do you have an idea for a middle ground on this?
