QUOTE(stsh90 @ Mar 10 2011, 10:48 AM)
Might I add, Arsenal against Barca 2nd yellow card?
Not FA but still..
Sure
referee made a number of imperfect calls . I will try not to put on too many hats (i.e. as a player, coach , manager or referee based on my years of experience) here to give MY OPINION..
IMO Van Pursie is the main author of Arsenal's misfortune & negate any slim opportunities or any chance for the Gunners to advance to the CL QFs with his display at Camp Nou.
Let me explain
1. Most of us will agree that his first yellow card ( a delayed retaliation) was correctly given by the referee.
2. The 2nd yellow card is contentious to some of you. IMO its the correct one and that 95% of referee will give that knowing that he had whistled & the linesman had flagged for one.
Whistle (Professional) can be heard clearly & sometimes if a flag is properly flagged too amidst the din & noise of the large capacity crowd.
Ask yourself this question why every instance that the whistle was blown in this match it was heard. Did anybody at any time wasted time during the match after the whistle was blown other than this specific instance?
On the other hand when a professional player knows he is offside & wanted to waste time what does he do?
As everyone of us know van Pursie is a deadly striker. If he genuinely believes he wasn't offside & didn't hear the whistle his strike would have been a goal attempt instead of way off to the side of the net. His body position viz to shield the ball or ward off the defenders isn't there! The defender (LB) on his right heard & stop pursuing him are some of the intangible clues that convince me that he was trying to be too cute or smart, thinking that he can pull an eye over the referee and the crowd.
You can't fool the football cognoscenti (Barca crowd) nor should you disrespect the CL Official (they are qualified to discern the tomfoolery).
At the end of the day we can say Arsenal didn't get the 'lucky break ' that has been given say to 'Rooney for his elbow' or Neville getting away with not giving a penalty'.
I would say the latter 2 actions are more e·gre·gious & less deserving of a 'LUCKY BREAK'.
The bottom line is that he got expelled because of his 1st. yellow card. you don't play play especially in an important match.