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Red cards deprive everyone a balanced and equal contest. The offend player may not be able to continue. The offending team is now disadvantaged for the balance of the game, whether it be for five minutes from the start or five minutes from the end.
The fans who have paid to watch two competing teams of equal numbers sometimes leave the stadium because 15 players playing 14 players is too nig a challenge to overcome, especially if the incident occurs early in the game.
It suits nobody except media, commentators and talk-back, who milk the incident for all it’s worth.
Nobody would suggest that foul play or the breaking of rules, whether it be intentional or unintentional, is acceptable. However, there is a need to address the injustice in a better way.
For minor indiscretions of foul play, the yellow card and ten minutes sin-binning is acceptable. However, to remove a player for the entirety of the game is not.
I suggest a player who earns a red card receives a ten minutes in the sin bin and is cited, automatically receives a two game stand-down, and the judiciary may impose further games off, depending upon the circumstances.
Furthermore, the player’s team automatically loses two competition points, which is added to the offending team’s competition points. Should the offending player be cited again for foul play during the season, the player stands down for the rest of the season, but is not prevented from playing in a lower competition.
This provides a balanced solution for all. It satisfies the fans, the injured party, recompenses their team, and penalises the offender and the offender’s team yet still allows the game to continue in a balanced form.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.