Bernie wrote:I think these two screen shots make it clear that Walker, and therefore his contact with the ball, was outside the area when he caught the ball.
If Walker had not caught the ball it would have been a clear chance for the forward, so definitely a straight red card.
....having replayed this same clip back and forth whilst his feet were a yard outside the box, he collected the ball probably a foot outside the box in the end by the time he tried to adjust his position.
As i said before, Wacka has ended up tieing himself up in knots by being in 2 minds, his position alone tells you his first thought was to clear the ball in to row z, hes then questioned himself by realising the ball would actually carry but by which time he was already committed and outside the blinkin area...... first rule of goalkeeping is clear your lines and when youve made your decsion stick with it and follow it through - for Wacka's years of experience an elementary mistake....
To bring some balance to my comment of last night before having the opportunity to review it on the box; You can see from the television/referee angle why he gave a straight red........... again, youve seen them given and not given.
If asked would I have sent him off putting aside any biases; my honest answer would have still been no.... and why? well, for me he collected the ball a foot outside the area a clear infringement, the ball would have trravelled comfortably into the area had he stayed at home and he would have been in control of the ball; he is part of the defensive unit and would have clearly got to the ball before their guy not to mention our 2 defenders converging on him from either side. ........ this incident certainly falls within the 50/50 camp of is it a straight red, the referee cant be blamed for giving it as much as i still dont think it was anything more than a yellow and a direct free kick.