Proposal: Suspend Suspensions for Cup Finals

By: Daryl | May 20th, 2009

I have a proposal that could make cup finals – all cup finals – better. Here it is: No suspensions.

It’s the UEFA Cup Final later today, but both Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen will be missing players through suspension. Shakhtar will be without Thomas Hubschmann, while Werder will be without Hugo Almeida and – crucially – Diego (pictured).

Next week it’s the Champions League Final, where Barcelona will be without Dani Alves and (unfairly?) Eric Abidal, and Man Utd will be (unfairly?) missing Darren Fletcher.

So I’m proposing that anyone who is suspended should get a pass for cup finals.

Finals are supposed to be a special, showpiece event. But seems everytime we get there, someone or other has to miss out, and the final is a little worse for it.

How much better would today’s UEFA Cup Final be if Diego could play? And everyone wants to see this near-mythical Barcelona team in the Champions League Final, but guess what… Dani Alves’ runs down the right are a huge part of that team.

Questionable red cards are one thing (Abidal and Fletcher could both make convincing cases to have their cards overturned) but the accumulation of yellow cards is arguably the bigger problem. When you’ve gone deep enough into a tournament to reach the final, it’s inevitable that someone will pick up too many yellows. And so we’re almost guaranteed that every final will have someone missing.

I’m not saying players who’ve picked up too many yellow cards should go unpunished, that would obviously be unfair. But the suspensions could easily be served in the first game of next season, so justice is still done but no one misses out on the big event.

No idea whether UEFA or FIFA would go for this. And no idea whether anyone here on The Offside will agree with me. But cup finals are better events when both teams are at full strength, and this is definitely a way to make that happen.

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Category: World Football

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timmyg

i agree on the accumulation of yellows, not reds though.

or how about instead of missing the final, you cannot start that player?

that would make things extremely interesting tactically.
Felix

SP- good point, I meant to show how, with the current rules, such a scenario (where a booking is not necessarily justified) can have a very significant (negative) impact, and that this possibility alone might justify reviewing the laws.
gary

And hey Daryl why not put up a petition, too?
gary

Too true. Consider that in Ghana's own very cup matches, some very key players missed the finals due to bookings.

Absolute rubbish and i agree with you mate.
SP

well felix, it sounds like you have more a problem with the nature of the booking than what the consequences should have been. if he had gotten that yellow for an unprovoked bad tackle, what would your views be on it?
Felix

I completely disagree with Ryan and Ebrahim, specifically because of Diego's yellow card against Hamburg, where he was insulted and pushed only to receive a booking. Being a Werder supporter, this is particularly painful (especially in light of the events just now..)
Wayne Farry

Totally agree Daryl. I've thought about this for a while actually.

It would improve the quality of the final stages immensely as players wouldn't have to play at half their usual speed to avoid a caution.

Everyone would be a winner with this rule.
SP

jan, that's exactly what i was thinking. maybe clear before the quarter or semifinals
Jan

Why not follow the Euro example and clear all yellow cards after a certain round?
Daryl

I don't think the players would behave any differently in the semis. They'd still be sent off if they get a red or two yellows.

Also, it could be left up to the governing body to determine if certain acts still warrant a suspension from the final (eg violent conduct).
Ebrahim

Totally agree with Ryan. Why is it UEFA's fault that a player forgets what's at stake and gets a yellow/red card in the semi?!

And picture this scenario - team A is winning on goal difference in the semi, team B have a player clean through on goal in the last minute but, just outside the box, gets bulldozed to the ground deliberately to avoid scoring. Offending player gets sent off but his team survive a free kick and go on to the final where offending bulldozer is now the representation of a footballer to the whole world in a showpiece football occasion. NO BLOODY WAY.
Ryan

How about not committing stupid fouls that jeopardize your ability to play in the final?

If there are no serious consequences for poor play, then you'd see horrendous, last-ditch fouls in the quarter and semi-finals.
Jon

Spot on. I don't know how this isn't brought up more often...
Rob

In principle its a good idea, but you could get players abuse it in the semi-finals, in certain situations I suppose. I do think the system needs looking at though.
OhYes

I fully agree. Having the top clubs in Europe face off against each other is neat. But when they're missing key figures due to suspension, especially when it's unjustified, that's no longer the best teams in Europe facing off against each other.

It's like trying to decide between Pepsi and Coke with each drink missing key ingredients.