There isn't even a hint of a red card in Xhaka's challenge!
those of you arguing for a red card here must give out half a dozen red cards a game - and no yellows for tripping or kicking an opponent!
If this is a red card, then so is every single tactical trip. And it clearly isn't.
There was little force used - in fact it was probably about the minimal force used to trip somebody over.
It was a kick - well of course it was. Because challenges are made with the feet. It would be a lot more serious if he dived and grabbed his leg with his hand!
But it was a kick with little force that tripped the player over. Nothing more.
Deliberately, yes - but that's not a red card.
Many reckless tackles have no attempt for the ball. Probably most - and almost all of them are a lot harder than this one was.
There's simply no argument for a red. It's a yellow, nothing more. Not endangering the safety of an opponent, and certainly not excessive force.
If the amount of force here was excessive then the game would have to be abandoned from the other 12 red cards given out.
For those arguing for a red card here - it would seem that you simply don't believe it's possible to caution a player for a cynical trip that breaks up an attack. No such thing. You've never done it yourself and argued the referee is wrong every time you've seen it.
Correct?
But he's not attempting to tackle the ball, he's attempting to kick the player with the ball nowhere near being in range.
That would describe every other late tackle in the history of the game.
I think that rightly or wrongly, it would seem to come down to if we consider it a kick or just a trip.
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Given what the player is trying to do I think it's clear it's a 'trip', not a 'kick' - but even if it changes to a kick....don't see how that suddenly makes it a red card.