He is judging the flight of the ball and trying to bring it down, he is already in the air, eyes on the ball and no serious intention of injuring or going at the player….its a 50-50 ball, both players are going for it…NO NOT A RED
Definitely a card, but a straight red is severe. Regardless, Man U lost it out on the pitch and could not defend their lead. No composure, and Madrid pounced like champions do
Yellow card at most. In such a big game like that, does not deserve a red. From that point on it was one awesome match to watch though. Man U could have had 2 or 3
Clearly a red card. The foot was high and studs were showing. If Arbeloa had tried to control the ball with a header, instead of a chest control he would be in hospital now and no one would be defending Nani.
Personally I think a yellow would have been more appropriate but I can still understand the sending off. It was a high foot that made contact so I really can’t understand why everyone’s complaining about the referee’s decision
I don’t think it matters that the ball was around chest level. You just can’t bring your foot up that high with another player near you. I can see some lenient refs giving a yellow, but I’d say that it’s a red in most cases.
Probably a red 90% of the time for studs into the chest… De Jong in WCF proves the exception. harsh considering the Nani’s intent. an english ref probably always gives a yellow against MU at OT (at least until SAF retires)
If even one of Madrid’s players thought it was a red they would have been surrounding the ref and waving their invisible cards. Plus Mourinho basically apologizing to SAF on the sidelines- not worth a red.
Crap call and totally distorted a majorly important match. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valour and the referee way overstepped his role here.
I am a rabid hater of the home side here tonight (can’t even bring myself to use their proper name) and I think this was a joke. Sorry to see a UCL tie between such titanic clubs devolve to this.
Madrid fan here. All Madrid fans have a sour taste in their mouth today, it was a yellow at worst! In the replay I noticed that as soon as Nani realized he accidentally cleated Arbeloa, he couldn’t help but push down slightly. I think the ref saw this and decided for the Red.
I see no issue with giving that a red. People say he didn’t know the player was there, but that’s on him. If Arbeloa hadn’t gone up for the ball, the cleat would have been in his face. Dangerous play, deserving of a red.
Nani was quite a distance from even tipping the ball with the tip of his cleet. When Arbeloa chested the ball it nearly hit him on his right arm and Nani’s foot was well into Arbeloa’s chest and armpit, from my observation it looked like Nani followed through with his foot and tried to balance himself off Arbeloa. Basically, he pushed off Arbeloa to come to a stop and then flopped to the ground like he was Oscar Pistorus.
The laws no longer take intent into account. Nani can’t just assume he has 20 yards of space around him & stab about recklessly. Bad luck for him, but recklessly endangering an opponent by leaving the ground & showing your studs is red, regardless of how much or where contact was made. It may be harsh but it’s the law, & the ref would be in trouble with his bosses if he hadn’t called it.
red. and doesn’t everyone see the “after kick” that Nani gave, clearly as a little extra touch? he’s an idiot. that was his little trick that he had hoped would go unnoticed. and the fact that he stayed on the ground as a victim was an absolute admission of guilt. everyone knows Nani’s antics. he just got caught this time and he tried to cover his tracks by pretending to be hurt. an innocent player would have immediately gone over to check on the opponent. nani is his own worse victim. man u fans must know this. gee. wonder why that moron is always in the middle of something. every since he called himself the best footballer. a class footballer would know where he is on the pitch and never wildly extend his leg with no calculation or direction.
Talking out of your ass. UEFA has a PDF of the champs league rules which clearly states that deliberately violent or malicious conduct (read: intent) merits a red.
Refs have the responsibility of making sure they don’t affect the game beyond their stated goal of maintaining order and fairness. That single call altered the entire landscape of the rest of the tournament.
Personally feel like that was definitely a yellow card but it had no reckless intent he was simply trying to to control the ball. With the magnitude of the game you can’t give a red but then again the ref has sent off the likes of balotelli gerrard and Terry so it doesn’t surprise me he’s card happy. More than anything I’m disappointed we lost a classic if it went on 11v11 we would of had one of the greatest ties ever played but instead we are left with a whole lot of questions and a huge what if. That’s the magic of footy though everything can change in a second. Not going to be surprised at all when the special one and cr7 head to united. Everyone needs luck though and with barca seemingly out I see Madrid winning la decima and Ronaldo leaving on top
I watched the game with a few Real Madrid fan friends….each stated to me after the game that it was a brutal call…yellow at worst should have been pulled.
When even fans of the winning team are sympathizing with poor refereeing, what does that tell you?
It tells you that no one wanted to see such a great card marred by a red card. It was disappointing, but we wouldn’t be talking about it if Nani hadn’t been lunging around with his feet in the air.
I must have watched that clip 20 times now and I still can’t come to a definitive answer.
I’d put it this way: would I have called it a red? not sure. Can I see how an official with no benefit of replay needing to make a snap decision could come to the conclusion it was a red? Totally.
Anyway, there was still game left to be played but United folded like a deck of cards. That should be getting some attention as well and not just the ref.
definately a red card with the clear second push. maybe he used arbeloa to balance off in the air but he had no right to. If he didnt know arbeloa was there he did at first contact then what was the need for the second push? The sly NANI got caught out he used his possible yellow card offence to hurt opposition player arbeloa thinking he wouldnt be caught.
Referee spot on. Had it been a real madrid player offence none of this chatting would even happen as that would be acceptable – I think mourinho was being respectful saying best team lost – IF this was true the man wouldnt be celebrating each goal they scored!
As a neutral, I think the red card was defensible. Niall Quinn’s one sided pro- United commentary today was very tiring. No Niall, it wasn’t the harshest red card ever given. Really!
Players make that type of play all the time they challenge for the ball and Arbeloa happened to run into Nani it wasn’t a good call at all he made contact with the ball yellow at most.
Red or not, flying in the air and showing your underside of the boots at such height when you are exactly aware of the fact that an opposing player is approaching is a darn stupid thing to do.
May or May not be intentional. But downright stupid but also crucially dangerous. Does the referee have choice other than sending off.
I am convinced Nani has only himself to blame although he may be a tad unfortunate
Yes. Nano missed the ball. It looked like attack on player’s chest. Similar red card was given to Maradona during World Cup, although that time video showed it was on purpose. This time it was not on purpose,but it looked like one.
the whining and bitching from all the English media is nauseating, yes it was a bad call but united were still winning and they let 2 goals in 3 minutes. if SAF had not been acting like a little bitch and made smart subs they could of won this game. numerous times teams have won with 10 men, it’s not like it was a bad offside call or linesman not seeing a ball going in. fuck united lost cuz they buckled under the pressure stop blaming the ref!
Rooney’s fantastic overhead kick v Man City..
Should he have been given a red card as he also raised his boot head height an threw himself in the air without looking to see if a defender was maybe heading clear?
Nani’s red? A JOKE!!!
shouldn’t have been a red
Yellow until the second push with the foot. Watch in slow motion. Red.
I totally agree. the second foot was malicious and satan
He is judging the flight of the ball and trying to bring it down, he is already in the air, eyes on the ball and no serious intention of injuring or going at the player….its a 50-50 ball, both players are going for it…NO NOT A RED
kleets up into chest … usually a red card.
You must be a turkish referee.
Definitely a card, but a straight red is severe. Regardless, Man U lost it out on the pitch and could not defend their lead. No composure, and Madrid pounced like champions do
Yellow card at most. In such a big game like that, does not deserve a red. From that point on it was one awesome match to watch though. Man U could have had 2 or 3
Clearly a red card. The foot was high and studs were showing. If Arbeloa had tried to control the ball with a header, instead of a chest control he would be in hospital now and no one would be defending Nani.
Personally I think a yellow would have been more appropriate but I can still understand the sending off. It was a high foot that made contact so I really can’t understand why everyone’s complaining about the referee’s decision
He’s looking at the ball all the way and Arbeloa comes into his blind spot. A yellow at most. It was a terrible decision.
If intent is the difference between red and yellow, then it should have been yellow. I don’t believe Nani even knew the player was that close.
I don’t think it matters that the ball was around chest level. You just can’t bring your foot up that high with another player near you. I can see some lenient refs giving a yellow, but I’d say that it’s a red in most cases.
Probably a red 90% of the time for studs into the chest… De Jong in WCF proves the exception. harsh considering the Nani’s intent. an english ref probably always gives a yellow against MU at OT (at least until SAF retires)
Pretty sure Nigel De Jong would say it’s a yellow……
If even one of Madrid’s players thought it was a red they would have been surrounding the ref and waving their invisible cards. Plus Mourinho basically apologizing to SAF on the sidelines- not worth a red.
@thedevil – at least 3 RM players did immediately go to the ref to complain. Admirable restraint that they didn’t throw a tantrum.
Crap call and totally distorted a majorly important match. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valour and the referee way overstepped his role here.
I am a rabid hater of the home side here tonight (can’t even bring myself to use their proper name) and I think this was a joke. Sorry to see a UCL tie between such titanic clubs devolve to this.
Mourinho’s subdued nature says it all
http://blogs.thescore.com/counterattack/2013/03/05/jose-mourinho-speaks-after-the-most-controversial-game-ever-played/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Madrid fan here. All Madrid fans have a sour taste in their mouth today, it was a yellow at worst! In the replay I noticed that as soon as Nani realized he accidentally cleated Arbeloa, he couldn’t help but push down slightly. I think the ref saw this and decided for the Red.
I see no issue with giving that a red. People say he didn’t know the player was there, but that’s on him. If Arbeloa hadn’t gone up for the ball, the cleat would have been in his face. Dangerous play, deserving of a red.
After watching it many times – I agree it was a straight red. The sour taste still there.. no pride in winning like that. Nani ruined a great game.
Nani was quite a distance from even tipping the ball with the tip of his cleet. When Arbeloa chested the ball it nearly hit him on his right arm and Nani’s foot was well into Arbeloa’s chest and armpit, from my observation it looked like Nani followed through with his foot and tried to balance himself off Arbeloa. Basically, he pushed off Arbeloa to come to a stop and then flopped to the ground like he was Oscar Pistorus.
Straight red card. Well deserved, but Mourinho had it right, Manchester United would have won the game.
The laws no longer take intent into account. Nani can’t just assume he has 20 yards of space around him & stab about recklessly. Bad luck for him, but recklessly endangering an opponent by leaving the ground & showing your studs is red, regardless of how much or where contact was made. It may be harsh but it’s the law, & the ref would be in trouble with his bosses if he hadn’t called it.
red. and doesn’t everyone see the “after kick” that Nani gave, clearly as a little extra touch? he’s an idiot. that was his little trick that he had hoped would go unnoticed. and the fact that he stayed on the ground as a victim was an absolute admission of guilt. everyone knows Nani’s antics. he just got caught this time and he tried to cover his tracks by pretending to be hurt. an innocent player would have immediately gone over to check on the opponent. nani is his own worse victim. man u fans must know this. gee. wonder why that moron is always in the middle of something. every since he called himself the best footballer. a class footballer would know where he is on the pitch and never wildly extend his leg with no calculation or direction.
Talking out of your ass. UEFA has a PDF of the champs league rules which clearly states that deliberately violent or malicious conduct (read: intent) merits a red.
Refs have the responsibility of making sure they don’t affect the game beyond their stated goal of maintaining order and fairness. That single call altered the entire landscape of the rest of the tournament.
Personally feel like that was definitely a yellow card but it had no reckless intent he was simply trying to to control the ball. With the magnitude of the game you can’t give a red but then again the ref has sent off the likes of balotelli gerrard and Terry so it doesn’t surprise me he’s card happy. More than anything I’m disappointed we lost a classic if it went on 11v11 we would of had one of the greatest ties ever played but instead we are left with a whole lot of questions and a huge what if. That’s the magic of footy though everything can change in a second. Not going to be surprised at all when the special one and cr7 head to united. Everyone needs luck though and with barca seemingly out I see Madrid winning la decima and Ronaldo leaving on top
I watched the game with a few Real Madrid fan friends….each stated to me after the game that it was a brutal call…yellow at worst should have been pulled.
When even fans of the winning team are sympathizing with poor refereeing, what does that tell you?
It tells you that no one wanted to see such a great card marred by a red card. It was disappointing, but we wouldn’t be talking about it if Nani hadn’t been lunging around with his feet in the air.
I must have watched that clip 20 times now and I still can’t come to a definitive answer.
I’d put it this way: would I have called it a red? not sure. Can I see how an official with no benefit of replay needing to make a snap decision could come to the conclusion it was a red? Totally.
Anyway, there was still game left to be played but United folded like a deck of cards. That should be getting some attention as well and not just the ref.
Yup red was valid. Sorry about your luck Sir Red Nose.
definately a red card with the clear second push. maybe he used arbeloa to balance off in the air but he had no right to. If he didnt know arbeloa was there he did at first contact then what was the need for the second push? The sly NANI got caught out he used his possible yellow card offence to hurt opposition player arbeloa thinking he wouldnt be caught.
Referee spot on. Had it been a real madrid player offence none of this chatting would even happen as that would be acceptable – I think mourinho was being respectful saying best team lost – IF this was true the man wouldnt be celebrating each goal they scored!
As a neutral, I think the red card was defensible. Niall Quinn’s one sided pro- United commentary today was very tiring. No Niall, it wasn’t the harshest red card ever given. Really!
Players make that type of play all the time they challenge for the ball and Arbeloa happened to run into Nani it wasn’t a good call at all he made contact with the ball yellow at most.
Red or not, flying in the air and showing your underside of the boots at such height when you are exactly aware of the fact that an opposing player is approaching is a darn stupid thing to do.
May or May not be intentional. But downright stupid but also crucially dangerous. Does the referee have choice other than sending off.
I am convinced Nani has only himself to blame although he may be a tad unfortunate
Yes. Nano missed the ball. It looked like attack on player’s chest. Similar red card was given to Maradona during World Cup, although that time video showed it was on purpose. This time it was not on purpose,but it looked like one.
the whining and bitching from all the English media is nauseating, yes it was a bad call but united were still winning and they let 2 goals in 3 minutes. if SAF had not been acting like a little bitch and made smart subs they could of won this game. numerous times teams have won with 10 men, it’s not like it was a bad offside call or linesman not seeing a ball going in. fuck united lost cuz they buckled under the pressure stop blaming the ref!
Rooney’s fantastic overhead kick v Man City..
Should he have been given a red card as he also raised his boot head height an threw himself in the air without looking to see if a defender was maybe heading clear?
Nani’s red? A JOKE!!!