I rang up pundits and asked them to go easy on me - I know how Rashford feels
Sorry, but Marcus Rashford's red card in Manchester United's Champions League meltdown was justified – even if it was bad luck.
Sometimes in football we see decisions which look inexplicable, or massively unfair until you read the wording of the laws. I don't like some of the laws as they stand, and to an extent I agree with people who say the game has 'gone', but there is a reasonable explanation for what happened to Rashford in United's dramatic 4-3 defeat in Copenhagen.
In real time, as co-commentator for TNT Sports, I said it was a red card and I stand by every word. When the referee is advised to go and check the incident on his touchline screen by VAR, he is obliged to uphold the laws of the game.
And his thought process would have been simply to determine one thing: Under the laws governing serious foul play, did Rashford's action endanger the safety of his opponent? Sadly, I have to agree with referee Donatas Rumsas' conclusion – even though I don't like it.
Do I believe Rashford intended to hurt Copenhagen's Elias Jelert? No, I don't. Do I think Rashford was unlucky to be sent off? Yes, I do. Do I think it was accidental that he caught Jelert as he planted his foot to shield the ball? Yes, I do. But the words intent, unlucky and accidental are not in the laws.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Did Marcus Rashford deserve to be sent off? Have your say in the comments section
Marcus Rashford was sent off against FC Copenhagen following a VAR check (Getty Images)What is there, in the wording, is whether a player's actions endanger opponents' safety – if you look at the Rashford incident, and where the United player's foot lands, it's a red card. Marcus Rashford is a wonderful player, but just because it wasn't a fair outcome doesn't mean it wasn't right.
I feel for United and manager Erik ten Hag because, for 40 minutes in the Danish capital, they played their best football of the season and the sending-off changed the game. And I know how it feels to be on the wrong side of the law.
As a player at Birmingham, I was once handed a retrospective three-match ban for catching Chelsea's Mateja Kezman in the face as I tried to hold him off and shield the ball – like Rashford – and I caught him with my elbow accidentally. I felt massively aggrieved by my suspension because, yes, I liked a tackle and I collected my fair share of yellow cards, but I was only sent off once in 623 games my club career.
I was so upset that I rang up Match of the Day before it went on the air that night and asked them to go easy on me because I knew they would analyse the incident, so I know how Rashford would have felt on Wednesday night. As for Ten Hag, he just can't catch a break at the moment. Everything that could go wrong for United is going wrong.
The penalty decision that went against them in Copenhagen was also harsh but correct under the letter of the law – although the handball laws need urgent revision. Ultimately, United were undone by switching off defensively twice in the last 10 minutes. And you can't blame that on Rashford's red card.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
