‘Clear red’ for Bosnia or ‘wins the ball’? BBC pundits disagree

Football is a game of opinions.

And there was a lively debate in the BBC studio following Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina, a result that ensured the co-hosts avoided defeat for the first time in seven World Cup matches.

But should Canada’s task have been made easier by Bosnia being reduced to 10 men in the second half?

One of the talking points came four minutes into the second half, with Bosnia 1-0 ahead.

A long ball was played forward and Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj leapt and punched the ball, but then on the follow-through his fists clattered into the head of Canada striker Tani Oluwaseyi.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney felt Vasilj should have been sent off, while ex-Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann said Argentine referee Facundo Tello made the right decision to take no action – no penalty, no red card.

An offside was given, so there would not have been a penalty given anyway, although Vasilj could still have been dismissed.

Cann, who was an assistant referee in the 2014 World Cup final, said: “First of all, offside was given, but even without the offside in my opinion it is not a penalty. It is not a red card.

“The goalkeeper clearly plays the ball first and there’s inevitable contact after that, so it is not serious foul play. The keeper clearly wins the ball and that for me is clearly not a red card.”

This is what the rules say: “A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

“Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”

This is what Rooney said: “It is a red card. We have seen it before when players have gone through, and the whistle has gone, and it is a red card.

“It is a very dangerous play. I know he wins the ball, but the follow-through, he hits him in the temple. That is the worst place to be hit.

“He [Oluwaseyi] could get knocked out. He might come back in a week’s time and have delayed concussion. For me, that is a clear red card.

“I don’t think it is the first time we [himself and Darren Cann] have disagreed.

“When you see players win the ball, it is with reasonable force. They follow-through and then they go and get a red card, so it is the same, but with his hands. It is easier to move your hands back than it is with your leg.”

Former France forward Olivier Giroud, another member of the BBC team, was seeing both sides. He said: “As a striker, I would have been frustrated to not get a penalty on that one.

“On the other hand, I understand what Darren Cann says. You hit the ball first and it is hard for him to get his hands off the striker’s head.”

So now it is your turn to act as the referee and take part in a vote. Should it have been a red card or not? Have your say.