Question Number: 34285

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/3/2021

RE: Rec High School

Jason C. of Lacrosse, WI USA asks...

Did you guys see Herrera's boot to the head of a USMNT player in the Gold Cup final? Are studs to any part of an opposing player above the waist ever NOT a red card for you guys?

Herrera was cautioned.

Is this similar to DeJong's studs in the chest incident from the WC final a decade back (ie ref really doesn't want to show red in a cup final), or should we be looking at the amount of force involved when said studs contact the opposing players head/torso, and potentially downgrading to a caution if there's little force behind the kick?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jason
Let’s take the DeJong incident first. The referee Howard Webb said that he made a mistake on the call and that it should have been a red card. He went on to say at the time that the decision not to red card DeJong was not based on him not wanting to send someone off in the World Cup final, it was based on the viewing angle that he had got and that he was not prepared to guess.
I think not dealing with it adequately continued the tone for a very physical game with a record 14 yellows and two red cards in a final.

I would also say that the decision in the Gold Cup was equally wrong in that it should have been in my opinion a red card. It without doubt endangered the safety of an opponent which is a red card offence.

Unlike the WC final game the match officials had the use of VAR so it was somewhat surprising that this did not get called for an on field review?

https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=Herrera+kick+gold+cup+final+

As to the level of force used that is a factor and the term used in the laws is excessive force which is defined as using more force/energy than is necessary.
I personally think that the action with the boot that high with studs showing is without doubt endangering the safety of an opponent with a fair degree of force. On my watch it would be a red card. Now there are many in the game who just see it as reckless while others feel that the game has gone soft!
As to a sending off in a final that should have no bearing particularly when the misconduct merits a red card.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jason,
yup, it was hard to watch and difficult to explain to those watching with me what the referee and VAR were thinking?? RED CARD SEND OFF EVERY TIME for me in ANY type of soccer.

https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=Herrera+kick+gold+cup+final+

3 World Cup matches you would think we should learn from history?

The Battle of Nuremberg (Portuguese: Batalha de Nuremberga, Dutch: Slag van Neurenberg also known as the Massacre of Nuremberg) is the nickname of a football match played in the round of 16 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup between Portugal and the Netherlands at the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg on 25 June 2006.3 Russian referee Valentin Ivanov issued a FIFA World Cup record of four red cards and 16 yellow cards, setting a new record for cards shown at any FIFA-administered international tournament. I recall watching that game, flabbergasted that more red cards were not issued sooner.

In particular Boulahrouz studs into Ronaldo's thigh for me a clear red card! I can see possibly the CR missing it from a behind angle but the AR should have raised the bar a bit and got on the headphones assuming he saw it? They targeted Ronaldo until he was FORCED To leave the game due to injury! At least 3 cautions were shown to three crushing tackles just against Ronaldo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFDoPRSnefE


No VAR back then!
SAME if we jump ahead to

The 2010 FIFA World Cup took place in South Africa where Spain, the European champions, defeated third-time losing finalists the Netherlands 1–0 after extra time to win their first world title. English referee Howard Webb refereed the final, making him the first person to referee both the UEFA Champions League final and the World Cup final in the same year. Webb showed 14 yellow cards 1 red card, and at match end, with the deafening boos of the defeated Dutch ringing in his ears he may have felt this match did not truly flow with grace and beauty!

DeJong the Manchester City midfielder's kung-fu kick on Xabi Alonso, planting his boot studs up into Alonso's chest busting his ribs was criminal in nature, never mind a foul. Van Bommel's late crunch on Iniesta 12 minutes from time was just as savage and potentially career-ending. In my opinion, too many really serious incidents crept by unseen by the referee & his assistants. My feeling is Webb got lucky that Spain won. The Dutch played dirty far dirtier than the Spaniards but they too had incidents where cynical fouls could have got them sent off. I recall seeing Webb's face and the disappointment in his demeanor the constant yellows were NOT proving to be a deterrent.

No VAR back then!
SAME if we jump ahead to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSN6t9_A82A

If we jump ahead to the 2014 World cup you see the pattern?? Germany defeats Argentina. Yet Argentina gave them all they could handle. Such sadness I felt for Higuain, Messi, and Palacio for missing their opportunities. Yet Higuain after missing the sitter and his offside disallowed goal still could have been rewarded and redeemed when the German Keeper Neuer literally MMA clock cleaned his mind with a flying knee into the head. How that was MISSED and not a send-off utterly baffles me to this day. The fact the match referee, Nicola Rizzoli later admitted it was a wrong decision, he originally awarded the free-kick out in FAVOUR of Germany??? He claimed it should have been a throw-in for Argentina given Neuer had punched the ball away! He would not admit it SHOULD have been a send-off for Germany reducing them to 10 and a DFK awarded to Argentina as if what the keeper did was OK again blew my mind. All of these incidents PROVE to me, the technological introduction of the VAR can only be a good thing to stop these travesties from going unspotted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14WDjvsxCQk

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Jason,
This should definitely have been a red card for me. I don't think I can add much to the reasoning given by my esteemed colleagues.