Many people have been saying that Besart Berisha’s challenge on Tando Velaphi on Friday night deserved a red card.
There have been mutterings that players that endanger opponents to serious injury should be sent off, and that going in studs up is an automatic red.
Yet why was Berisha sent off for his challenge against Sebastian Ryall two weeks ago? Both players were in the wrong in that match between Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC.
I wrote about this incident previously on the Roar.
Let me just say that as a goalkeeper of many years, my natural sympathy is with the keeper. I suffered concussion a week ago at indoor football from a screamer that was bolted directly at my head from a few metres away.
Let me also say that player safety should be paramount, and there should be no place in the game for a dangerous, injury-producing style of play. But I don’t believe that’s what happened during Brisbane match against Melbourne Heart.
As an ex-referee, I tend to give the referee the benefit of the doubt and try to explain how the referee’s decisions are usually correct. Yet for the second time in two weeks, I find myself disagreeing with the referee about a red card decision. Both concern Berisha.
There are a few refereeing principles relevant to decision-making here. They may or may not have been followed correctly in this case. I’ll leave it for you to decide.
Firstly, referees should not make a decision about cards based on the injuries of the players involved. Looking at the replay in the Berisha/Velaphi case, Chris Beath looks down twice at the injured player (Velaphi) before reaching for the red.
Now, it may be that the referee was just exercising his duty of care for the player, but my gut feeling is that Beath chose to pull out the red after looking at how injured Velaphi was. This is not appropriate decision making.
Secondly, referees should not send players off when they are not in a good position to see the incident properly. Beath seemed too far away from the incident, and at an odd angle, to have a good view of it.
Thirdly, referees cannot make decisions based on the player involved. Referees should only make decisions based on the challenge involved, or if it involves persistent infringement of the laws of the game. To bring in a player’s prior reputation is not appropriate decision making.
There seems to be a few inconsistencies in the decision-making process that fans have used to condemn Berisha in both incidents.
In the incident between Berisha and Ryall, Berisha cops a knee to the head after the challenge. I came across some ill-informed comments after the match that Berisha should have got up, manned up, and stopped cheating.
As if you’re concerned about putting on a show and looking good for the cameras when you’ve just been kneed in the head!
Yet after Velaphi caught a boot to the neck from Berisha’s challenge on Friday night, I suspect there will be no such comments about getting up and manning up.
Velaphi seemed dreadfully injured until the red card came out for Berisha, and then he seemed fine. For me, that shows that people are judging based on the personalities involved, not on the challenges or behaviour involved.
If you watch closely you’ll notice Velaphi hesitates before the challenge. If he doesn’t make this mistake he probably would have got there first and taken out Berisha.
Much was made of Ryall being marginally first to the ball in his challenge with Berisha. The fact his studs were out was ignored. Berisha did not go into the challenge with two feet raised, despite media reports.
Both players are going for the ball. Both jumped towards the ball. Yet this was apparently Berisha’s fault?
Yet in the Berisha/Velaphi incident, the fact that Berisha got there first seems to be minimised in light of the outcome – Berisha’s boot connecting with Velaphi’s neck.
I find it difficult to argue that Berisha acted in disregard to the welfare of his opponent. The most he should have received was a yellow card.
There is no case to be made that Berisha used excessive force in the challenge. There is a case that he’s a little careless, maybe even reckless. A free kick? Sure. Maybe a yellow card for dangerous play? Perhaps. But not a red!
Please tell me what a striker is meant to do in that circumstance, if not kick for goal?
A ridiculous double standard seems to have been applied here!
It’s said of Berisha that he’s too aggressive. No, wait, he’s too soft.
When he’s writhing around on the ground it’s obvious that he’s a simulating cheat. When it’s his opponent writhing around on the ground, he’s obviously a violent cheat. Either way, it’s all his fault.
These double standards applied to Berisha really seem unfair, as does the double suspension. I feel he has been hard done by.
Please note: Da’ is not Besart Berisha in disguise; nor has he met the guy; nor is Berisha’s bountiful ebullience usually the writer’s cup of tea.
drew777
Roar Pro
Poor positioning may explain poor decisions, but it doesn't justify them. It should be the same as a court of law - from the ref's position, is the decision to penalise Berisha beyond reasonable doubt of Berisha's guilt in this instance? Maybe, maybe not.
drew777
Roar Pro
now you sound like Howard Webb ;)
drew777
Roar Pro
The rules may not allow them to issue cards based on injury, but it is definitely happening - that is one of the major reasons people hate divers; they act hurt so the ref, either consciously or subconsciously is more likely to issue a card. Ryall = witch, only explanation.
Max Shochet
Roar Rookie
It's a tough situation for the referee. I don't think he was in a clear position to see that Berisha's lunge made contact with the ball first. You see a player go studs up into another player's face and you think you're left with little option. I think Berisha was unlucky, he has to go for the ball and it was desperation rather than intent that led to him going in with such a lunging studs up motion. That being said, going in studs up always give the ref the opportunity to send you off. I'm not convinced that he should of been sent off, but you can't feel too aggrieved that he was.
far roar queensland
Guest
Burns would of been at the GK trying to get him to his feet while exclaiming loudly that he is faking
fadida
Guest
You commenting on my comments again Ian? Is that allowed? :D
fadida
Guest
So there are rules about who and how many people I can respond to if our opinions don't meet. You have an opinion Ian, and make numerous comment on the article. So I can't? Mulvey is not impartial. He has a vested intetest. I do not. Da is referencing Mulvey as support for Berisha not being sent off. I'm stating that is not evidence. Do you ever hear a manager hanging his player out to dry? The A- League panel turned down the appeal did they not, thus supporting the refs decision?
Ian
Guest
If you scroll through this article and the previous ones on the Ryall incident you'll see you go through retorting anyone who says they weren't red cards - even when they weren't referencing one of your comments. Reference point 1 is everyone different to you is bias and you've now said Mulvey is bias. That can't hold true when Craig Foster, Mark Bosnich, Robbie Slater said it was incorrect (cue they are commentators so what do they know)..........they don't have orange glasses on and bias is used as a cheap way to say we can't view an incident without thinking our player should not have received an instant red card (note i did not say penalty or yellow card - i said instant red card). 2 - in a comment below about rooney you've said i defended Berisha's electrocution antics. Please copy in my comments where i said Berisha's bit of flopping was ok. I said he rolled around a bit too much which is irrelevant to the red cards anyway. You don't need to seek out everyone's comment different to yours to shut them down or make up that they wrote something to prove their opinion is less valid than yours.
Ian
Guest
well now we'd want the same decision as a precedent has been set.
JohnL
Guest
So you are saying that retaliation is not an offence?
The Bear
Guest
You referred to the incident in focus as a tackle. Your premise is flawed IMO
The Bear
Guest
Absolutely. Dimi is the heir apparent. But Solo can be handy too. Ricky is def better suited to running at tiring defenders and playing on the break.
Da`
Roar Rookie
No-one would do that on here after all :)
fadida
Guest
Again Mulvey is not exactly coming from an impartial position. I'd be fascinated to see if it was Jacob Burns in on Theo in an identical fashion what the reaction of those with orange tinted glasses was.
fadida
Guest
Rooney deserves a life ban for crimes against hair :) Yes he overreacted, but then noone here is defending him as you were re Berisha's electrocution overreaction.
fadida
Guest
Again Ian, I'm arguing logically as to why i disagree with the article, and not saying anyone can't have an opinion. Your opinion is both times Berisha was wronged (being a Roar fan I presume). Brisvegas accuses others of bias. My point is he doesn't come from an impartial position. It's a blog Ian. I'm not being rude and condescending. Play the ball mate (unlike Berisha ;) )
fadida
Guest
I am a United fan Ian circa 1977. I believe I' m also a rational one and have always been able to see the faults of Fergie et al. No blind faith or sticking up for players because of club allegiance. Rooney is a boorish oaf, who has been a very good player for United, but failed to live up to half of his early potential. Like Berisha he lives on the edge and plays with enormous intensity (when he's not fat and smoking!). Unlike Berisha he's a a spiteful character and I imagine not nearly as likeable as the Albanian
Ian
Guest
but that's different drew.........that's a Man U player acting injured.
Ian
Guest
of course anyone with a view point different to fadida is 'bias' and unobjective. people are allowed to express their comments. with your permission of course.
Ian
Guest
My point was comparing the two 'accidents' that Punter mentioned. Ryall pushed Berisha intentionally without having a plan to make sure Broich's knee collected his face. But it did. Berisha went clearly for the ball, got the ball, foot rolled up and hit a goal keeper diving head first - as i typed above. That was an accident. I'm not retyping my above post again. I didn't even remotely suggest pushing was a red card so how you deduced that who knows. Also there was discussion that Ryall could have had a yellow for his attempt to get the ball.