Poll: Should John Terry’s Red Card Have Been Overturned?

By: Daryl | September 17th, 2008

Unsurprisingly, Sir Alex ~~Furious~~ Ferguson is furious about the FA’s decision to overturn the red card Mark Halsey waved at John Terry last weekend (see video). Partly because it seems Keith Hackett (king of English refs) has overruled Hasley, but mostly because the Chelsea captain is now free to face Man Utd this weekend.

Two questions, one annoyingly facetious, the other quite serious:

1) If you turn over a red card, isn’t it red on the other side too?
2) Should Terry’s red have been overturned?

The answer to 1) is: shut up. The answer to 2) is more complicated.

There’s no doubt that Terry brought down Jo deliberately. The successful appeal was based on the fact that Terry wasn’t the last man back for Chelsea, as other defenders were there to cover.

But seems Halsey refused to cancel the card because he felt what Terry did still constituted serious foul play.

I’m mostly on the fence here as both sides of the argument make sense, but veering towards the idea that ruling over a referee’s head damages the authority of the man in the middle. You could argue that red cards should only be overturned in more extreme circumstances, like cases of mistaken identity or when video evidence shows that there was actually no contact.

But I’m neutral. I’m sure that from a Chelsea fan’s perspective the card was unfair to begin with and from a Man Utd fan’s perspective the FA has hurt their team and helped Chelsea.

To reflect that difference in opinion, there are six options in this Should John Terry’s Card Have Been Overturned poll. Yes and No for neutrals, Yes and No for Chelsea fans and Yes and No for Man U fans:

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Category: Polls, World Football

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Schuyler

The biggest problem with this is the fact the FA would entertain the idea of over-turning a red card. The law book clearly states that cards are given if IN THE OPINION OF THE REFEREE the offense warrants a booking or a send off. Regardless of if the send off was warranted, Mr. Halsey felt it was. If the FA doesn't agree with it, then disciplinary action toward the official is appropriate, however, the send off should stand. The FA needs to show support for their referees!!!
Jack

you people kill me
Colman

The "last man red card" stems from a rule which states that a player must be sent off if he denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Terry was not clearly the last man, and therefore did not deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity. This is why the referee refered to it as serious foul play in his match report - he had since figured out that Terry was not the last man. However, serious foul play usually refers to fouls that risk injuring a player on the opposite team (ie. Roy Keane vs. Alf-Inge Håland). Pulling somebody down using your arm cannot be considered serious foul play. The referee has clearly got the call wrong. However, I believe the FA is setting a horrible precedent by overturning the red card. If every red card that should have been a yellow was overturned, this would happen every other week. As many have said above, this has alot to do with JT being JT.
David

Like most of the post have stated all ready. This has every thing to do with John Terry ( england captain ) and little to do with the spirit of the game. Also to call that foul cynical is to be quite harsh on the actual cynical fouls that ruin goal scoring chances.
mele419

haha, Yes for Chelsea is 9%, No for Utd is 9%, Yes for Utd is 2%, No for Chelsea is 2%.

Found it a little comical.
old apple

It was a cynical foul that prevented a clear 2v1 opportunity (robinho was on the left). A definite red card.
elle

yea. this really encourages "respect the referee"
Laurie

If this had been John Nobody instead of John Terry, he'd be in the stands on Saturday and not on the field.

Cynical reversal of the red card.
Mike

Tough call; I don't like do-overs.

http://startingeleven.blogspot...
adas

They don't go back and award goals for plays that were erroneously called offsides. Or for that matter, take away goals that weren't called offside but should have been. If the ref made a mistake, isn't there some sort of grading system, or performance rating that gets lowered. The ref should be "punished" in some way. The card should not have been overturned.
Ian

In my opinion, a review has to show incredibly clearly that the ref made a huge mistake in order to overturn a red. The appeals process totally undermines the refs, and this whole "Respect" campaign comes to nothing, again, if the refs don't think they actually have control of their games. Bad decision, in my mind.
Larm

Considering he dragged a dude down, with his hands he desereved a red.
Joe

Isn't the FA the only association that even entertains these "appeals"?
mele419

Definately not. Firstly, because it ruins the integrity of the referees, and the game, secondly because it was a red worthy offense. and I know plenty "professional fouls" I'm a defender, I commit them plenty, and I still think he got what he deserved, especially after the argument with the referee.
John

Terry got a red card, but didn't immediately leave the pitch. According to reports I saw, in his arguing over the card, it took him a minute to leave the pitch. Therefore, the red should have stayed. Overturning it encourages players to disrespect the referee, and to argue their cause without immediately exiting the pitch.
Rob

I know I'm in the minority but I think he should have gone, the cynicism was absolutely startling.