MillionMilesAway
Well-Known Member
It's not even a debate. Its a clear red card. Mane isn't malicious, nor is he trying to injure Ederson. The moment Ederson wins that ball he knows he's going to get a whack, Mane has his studs up and it's dangerous and reckless.
This is mostly my opinion too.
I don't think anyone thinks Mane was trying to injure anyone.
However the laws currently don't require intent or anything else - if it endangers an opponent, it's serious foul play and a red card. Nothing else is needed.
All the accident/not looking stuff is muddying the main fact of the law. If you jump with studs out and catch someone on the knee as they trap the ball, you''ll be off. This is just 2 1/2 feet higher. Carragher, Shearer and Wright all said the same thing - they'd have gone/wanted a teammate to go for it, but if you get it wrong, the law means a sending off. They don't like it, but they did accept it was the law.
I have sympathy with the idea that a 3 match ban for an accident might be harsh, but it's the rules at the moment, except in very rare circumstances when the FA decide to make things less clear.