Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

The laws of the game - dangerous play is when somebody has to get out of the way to avoid being hurt, ie. when somebody avoids a bad tackle. If contact is made then it's no longer dangerous play but it's one of six fouls where contact (in this instance, a kick) is made or attempted which must result in a direct free kick. It's then for the referee to decide if the player was careless, no card, reckless, yellow card, used excessive force, red card. My personal opinion is that Nani's eyes were on the ball, not the player and that he was at worst reckless, but no more.

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

A yellow card was the most that should have been given but alas here we have another referee wanting to be the centre of attention again and in the process he has totally ruined the game as a spectacle.

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

You clearly know your laws andy_m, and I am grateful for the enlightening me. I, maybe wrong, but I guess it's all down to interpretation.
Having played at a very minor level (like many others on here would have/currently do) I know it is possible to keep your on the ball and also know when someone is running towards/getting close to you (team-mates shout, fans shout, you can hear the player running and you also see them out of the "corner of your eye" - especially if they are running at you.) As such, I do not believe he only had his eyes on the ball and I believe that he tried to gain a deliberate advantage, possibly by using excessive force. (Thanks again for info)
The ref had plenty of time to come to a decision on all of the laws you have kindly posted, and by all accounts consulted with his assistant too. He clearly felt Nani had a strong case to answer. As I stated earlier, I believe there was no effort made by Nani to avoid the collision.
If the ref had given a straight red, and not consulted with his assistant I would find the decision a little more baffling.
It would be nice if the ref was allowed to explain his decision though, for all involved.

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

It was a yellow for me and I support City.
Though I thought there was nothing wrong with the challenge before Real "goal" to go 1-0 up in first half, which would have changed things also.
The Rafael handball wasn't deliberate in my book as it hit him from close range.

Going down to 10 didn't affect their defending, but their ability to carry any threat on the counter and once Madrid got the 2 goal lead (effectively given away goals rule), they could afford to sit back.

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

When the ball hits the net it's not Nani or Shrek, it's Ronaldo....... :)

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

Being a former referee, Nani had his foot up to the players chest, that why he got the red card.

In the eyes of the ref he had to make a decision on where he was positioned, The commentators said it was yellow, but l have seen many fouls like this, and some of the injuries can be horrific, and also this could could be seen as 'showing studs' or 'stamping' and depending on what the ref saw does mean a booking- BUT the player went down injured and the ref must have had instructions from his linesman.

It appears to me that when its Utd involved, they think they can get away with murder - but they cannot.

When l saw Rooney go in with a double foot challenge, and got a red for it, Sir Alex did his nut then. You cannot have one law for one club and not the other.

He gets his way with the 'added five minutes' by intimadating refs.

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

I wasn't aware that Nani used to be a referee! It appears to me that when it's Man. United involved, people who have little interest in football are experts all of a sudden.

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

I was a former referee.

---------- Post added at 21:55 ---------- Previous post was at 21:52 ----------

Sorry to say this, but l said that Celtic wouldn't beat Juventus.

Celtic, are not the team they were and need to play top football each week and NOT Scottish football, On Saturday Cetic are playing Ross County, they need to play sides like Man Utd each week, to bring that sparkle back and get rid of Niel Lennon he is rubbish.

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

are you Graham Poll in disguise :rolleyes:

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

Heehee..........:D

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

New Cup Games added:

FA Cup - Quarter Finals Replay:
March 13th - Blackburn Rovers VS Millwall - 7.30pm - ESPN (Also in HD)

Scottish League Cup - Final:
March 17th - ST Mirren VS Hearts - Kick off 3pm - BBC One Scotland (Also in HD in Scotland)

SPL: (Update)
April 5th - Inverness CT VS ST Johnstone - Kick off 7.45pm - Sky Sports 1 (Also in HD)

Scottish Cup - Last 4:
April 13th - Hibernian VS Falkirk - Kick off 12.30pm - BBC One Scotland (Also in HD in Scotland) and Sky Sports 1 (Also in HD)
April 14th - Celtic VS Dundee United - Kick off TBCpm - Sky Sports 1 (Also in HD)

FA Cup - Final 4:
April 13/14th - Manchester United or Chelsea VS Manchester City - Kick off TBCpm - ESPN or ITV and UTV (Also in HD)
April 13/14th - Millwall or Blackburn Rovers VS Wigan - Kick off TBCpm - ESPN or ITV and UTV (Also in HD)

Welsh Premier League:
March 16th - The New Saints VS Bangor City - Kick off 2pm - S4C
March 23rd - Carmarthen VS Airbus UK - Kick off 3.45pm - S4C
March 30th - The New Saints VS Carmarthen - Kick off 2.30pm - S4C

Welsh FAW Cup - Final 4:
April 6th - Bangor City VS The New Saints - Kick off 2pm - S4C

Northern Irish Premier League:
March 15th - Shamrock Rovers VS ST Patrick's - Kick off 7.35pm - RTE Two (Ireland only)

SPL - Not live games:
March 16th - Inverness CT VS Ross County - Shown at 5.30pm - BBC Alba
March 30th - Aberdeen VS Hearts - Shown at 5.30pm - BBC Alba

Friendly:
March 21st - England U21 VS Romania U21 - Kick off 7pm - ESPN (Also in HD)
March 21st - Italy VS Brazil - Kick off 7.30pm - ITV4 (May also be in HD)
March 25th - England U21 VS Austria U21 - Kick off 7.45pm - ESPN (Also in HD)

World Cup Qualfiers:
March 22nd - Northern Ireland VS Russia - Kick off 7.45pm - Sky Sports 3
March 22nd - Spain VS Finland - Kick off 7.45pm - ESPN (Also in HD)
March 22nd - Scotland VS Wales - Kick off 8pm - Sky Sports 2 (Also in HD)
March 22nd - San Marino VS Engand - Kick off 8pm - No live broadcaster confirmed yet but maybe on ITV and UTV (Also in HD)
March 23rd - USA VS Costa Rica - Kick off 2am - ESPN (Also in HD)
March 26th - Serbia VS Scotland - Kick off 7.30pm - BBC One Scotland (HD only in Scotland) and ESPN (Also in HD)
March 26th - Wales VS Croatia - Kick off 7.45pm - Sky Sports 1 (Also in HD)
March 26th - Ireland VS Austria - Kick off 7.45pm - RTE Two (Only in Ireland) and Sky Sports 2 (Also in HD)
March 26th - Northern Ireland VS Israel - Kick off 7.45pm - Sky Sports 3
March 26th - Montengro VS England - Kick off 8pm - ITV and UTV (Also in HD)

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

Nice one MB :)
March 22nd - San Marino VS Engand - Kick off 8pm - No live broadcaster confirmed yet but maybe on ITV and UTV (Also in HD)
I believe ITV have the rights to all the England home and away games

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

Indeed keep up the good work old bean.:tu:

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

March 14th UPDATE:

New Cup Games added:

FA Cup - Quarter Finals Replay:
April 1st - Chelsea VS Manchester United - 12.30pm - ITV and UTV (Also in HD)

FA Cup - Final 4:
April 13/14th - Manchester United or Chelsea VS Manchester City - Kick off TBCpm - ITV and UTV (Also in HD)
April 13/14th - Millwall VS Wigan - Kick off TBCpm - ESPN (Also in HD)

Friendly:
March 21st - Italy VS Brazil - Kick off 7.30pm - ITV4 (NOW also in HD)

World Cup Qualfiers:
March 22nd - San Marino VS Engand - Kick off 8pm - ITV and UTV (Also in HD)

---------- Post added at 17:18 ---------- Previous post was at 17:16 ----------

UEFA Europa League - Last 16 (2nd Leg):
March 14th - Inter VS Tottenham - Kick off 6pm - ITV4 (NOW also in HD)
March 14th - Newcastle United VS Anji - Kick off 8.05pm - ESPN (Also in HD)
March 14th - Chelsea VS Steaua Bucharest - Kick off 8.05pm - ITV, STV and UTV (Also in HD)

Re: European Football on Virgin Media.
 

Thanks MB for your excellent updates.