The Rational Ref | The Rational Ref: Referees must decide on kick or trip before producing red card
The severity of the challenge is crucial and Wayne Rooney's dismissal for a high boot against West Ham is fully deserved
By any other name, a kick is a kick and not a trip. It is these differences of severity referees are trained to spot that truly sets them apart from players, coaches, commentators and fans.
Wayne Rooney's blatant kick at West Ham's Stewart Downing last weekend was correctly punished with a red card. The kick was high and landed on Downing's thigh and knee area. Referee Lee Mason considered this kick to be a challenge of excessive force, which is why he sent off Manchester United's captain for serious foul play.
Despite his protests, Rooney knew he had erred: "I haven't absolutely volleyed the lad. I have tried to trip him up and, to be fair to him, he got further away from me and that is why my leg is straighter than it should have been. But it is a red card and I don't think it will benefit anyone to appeal against the decision."
Later in the match United players tried to pressure Mason into sending off West Ham's Diafra Sakho for tripping up Rafael da Silva in what they believed to be the same blatant foul as Rooney's. It was not.
When one player is sent off, there appears to be an absurd belief a player from the other side should be sent off, too, to restore order to the mad, crazy world of soccer.
This "equalling effect" is a myth because nothing about the way soccer is played demonstrates that two opposing teams produce exactly equal and opposite events and consequences.
Furthermore, it contributes to the flawed perception that referees are biased because they have whistled more fouls and awarded more cards to one team compared with the other.