- Sep 2, 2003
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No doubt Aurier has been roundly lambasted for getting sent off but, for what it's worth, I think he was unfortunate.
The tackle for the first booking was probably unnecessary but I thought a yellow card was harsh. It was clumsy. It wasn't reckless, he wasn't out of control or lunging, and giving a free kick was probably all it deserved.
I don't think the incident where he was given the second yellow was even a foul. The camera from behind the incident showed that, instead of chasing the ball, the Southampton player was running on a diagonal away from the ball in an attempt to block off Aurier from running to the ball. He was running in a line that was inevitably going to result in contact with Aurier, and when that happened he did exactly what you would expect: he hit the deck. Unfortunately, when incidents such as that happen and the ref deems it to be a foul he is going to give a yellow every time. It's an obvious decision to give a yellow card, and unless the ref had the same view as the one I've just described you can't blame him for it. (I wonder, does the VAR review all incidents when there is a sending-off? If so, he should have got involved.)
Anyway, as I say, I thought he was unfortunate; and therefore undeserving of the vilification he has doubtless received and will continue to receive.
The tackle for the first booking was probably unnecessary but I thought a yellow card was harsh. It was clumsy. It wasn't reckless, he wasn't out of control or lunging, and giving a free kick was probably all it deserved.
I don't think the incident where he was given the second yellow was even a foul. The camera from behind the incident showed that, instead of chasing the ball, the Southampton player was running on a diagonal away from the ball in an attempt to block off Aurier from running to the ball. He was running in a line that was inevitably going to result in contact with Aurier, and when that happened he did exactly what you would expect: he hit the deck. Unfortunately, when incidents such as that happen and the ref deems it to be a foul he is going to give a yellow every time. It's an obvious decision to give a yellow card, and unless the ref had the same view as the one I've just described you can't blame him for it. (I wonder, does the VAR review all incidents when there is a sending-off? If so, he should have got involved.)
Anyway, as I say, I thought he was unfortunate; and therefore undeserving of the vilification he has doubtless received and will continue to receive.