Watching the serial yellow cards handed out in the Liverpool vs Man United game, one is struck by how cynical all the fouling is. Yes it’s not ideal, it reduces the player’s risk envelope and could effect his availability….but it still beats conceding a goal scoring chance. So you hack the man down.
If in addition to 2 yellows being a red, a yellow put the player off the field for 10 minutes it would have more bite and properly compensate the aggrieved team.
And crucially it would make soccer a better watch….what’s better watching Diaz ghosting through a gap, or watching him rolling around feigning injury to insure the yellow. It would also obviate the game killing red card
Rugby should also have players sent off permanently for red card offenses but allow substitution after ten minutes…with the carded player ineligible for 4 weeks.
That would be putting the spectator first vs executing some draconian form Justice or making the rule makers reminisce about their own subtle fouling back in the day.
