“The most pathetic sending-off I’ve seen in my life.”
That’s what England’s goalkeeper Joe Hart had to say about the referee’s decision to send Wayne Rooney off following his kick out at Montenegro’s Miodrag Dzudovoic.
I beg to differ. The Manchester United striker deserved his red card, even if it wasn’t the most malicious of fouls. First he pounced on the back of Dzudovoic like a street brawler, then when he couldn’t get the ball, he kick out in frustration like a kid who couldn’t get his candy. There is no place in football for such a petulant act. There’s a reason why players get yellow carded if they kick the ball away after the whistle. There’s a reason why players are yellow carded for arguing with the referee. Dissent gets you into trouble. Dissent involving deliberate physical contact to me is just a straight red. Continue reading ‘Red Hot Rooney’
