Referees active in practice of handing out cards
Season of giving finds match officials more than happy to dish out their share of (red) greetings
Everyone loves giving out cards during the festive season and referees are no different. They dished out seven red cards in 30 matches in the English Premier League over the Christmas period and there could have been more. This is a 20 per cent increase compared with the 31 reds meted out in 160 matches earlier this season.
Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud can have no complaints about his Christmas present. In a moment of madness, he butted Nedum Onuoha in the face. Referee Martin Atkinson saw the misconduct clearly and correctly sent off the Frenchman.
Aston Villa's Gabby Agbonlahor's could not believe his Christmas holiday was coming early after he clattered clumsily into Manchester United's Ashley Young. Referee Lee Mason sent off Agbonlahor with a straight red, which meant an automatic three-match suspension over the festive period. However, the FA rescinded the red card after reviewing the decision.
Football Association regulations do not allow yellow cards to be rescinded, only red cards
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been particularly scathing about card-happy refs, alleging there is a "campaign" against his players. .
"Match after match coaches are saying Chelsea players are diving. Out of nothing Sam Allardyce starts talking about my players. There is a campaign against Chelsea," moaned Mourinho. Chelsea players have been criticised and cautioned for trying to deceive referees by diving. Oscar, Willian, Diego Costa, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic have all been caught cheating on camera and identified as divers. Mourinho immediately jumped on Anthony Taylor's mistake in cautioning Cesc Fabregas for simulation as his platform to shield his players from being labelled as cheats. It is a clever psychological tactic that was previously used effectively by Alex Ferguson. Mourinho's rant practically guarantees Chelsea players will not be cautioned for diving, at least for the next few matches. Taylor even apologised to Mourinho.
Mourinho wants incorrect yellow cards to be rescinded, especially if referees admit to their mistakes upon video evidence. Making honest mistakes should be more accepted, but only if players, coaches, supporters and the media are more understanding.
FA regulations do not allow yellow cards to be rescinded, only red cards. However, in Spain, Lionel Messi was fortunate to have his yellow card rescinded after he was cautioned for apparently time-wasting. Messi was celebrating his side's 94th minute winner against Valencia when he was hit on the head by a bottle thrown by spectators. But this exceptional circumstance took two appeals to set the record straight.
If there is a possibility that cards may be rescinded, then conversely cards could be upgraded. When Stoke played Chelsea, Phil Bardsley made a dangerous tackle on Eden Hazard worthy of a red card. However, referee Neil Swarbrick only cautioned Bardsley, which means the FA cannot review the incident.
But how is this situation any different from rescinding cards? If everyone sincerely wants justice to prevail then there needs to be a consistent policy allowing incidents to be "re-refereed".
Finally, if Mourinho is looking for conspiracy theories, he could have better luck looking at players rather than referees. Newcastle United's Cheick Tiote and Sunderland's Connor Wickham picked up their fifth cautions of the season and conveniently missed their Boxing Day matches.
Conspiracy or just a coincidence?
