Kompany expects ‘wave’ of red cards

MANCHESTER CITY skipper Vincent Kompany has predicted an “unprecedented wave” of red cards in the wake of his dismissal against Manchester United.

Kompany began a four-match ban by missing City’s Carling Cup semi-final first-leg encounter with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium last night after an FA disciplinary panel rejected his appeal.

Kompany expressed his frustrations on his Facebook page.

“I appealed because I obviously completely disagreed with the interpretation of the officials on the day but that happens in football and we move on. I wonder though if we are now going to see an unprecedented wave of red cards on match days because we sanction “ifs” and “maybes”?

“Are we going to look back at video evidence for every single challenge that goes unnoticed by the officials, look at different scenarios and potential outcomes of what could have been considered a good tackle and then sanction it? Players and managers are starting to expect more sending offs from referees and I think it’s for the wrong reasons.”

Opinion was divided over Kompany’s second red card of the season. Some suggested there was nothing wrong with the Belgian’s challenge on Nani and used the fact the United winger did not react to prove their point. Alex Ferguson was amongst those who took an alternate stance, believing Kompany’s tackle was two-footed and dangerous and deserved the red card brandished by referee Chris Foy.

However, most felt the decision emphasised the sea-change the English game has undergone.

“My understanding is that English football prides itself on the hardness, the fairness and the tradition of its game,” said Kompany. “That is why hundreds of millions of people tune in to watch Premier League football and English referees have always been a key factor to that success. So I don’t agree with people saying that referees in this country aren’t doing well as I think they are the best in the world. Hopefully common sense will prevail again in the future and I for one hope not to see consistency in sending offs and suspensions when the intent of a player is to win the ball. I’m not speaking on behalf of the club or anybody else, this isn’t me defending myself, this is just me raising a genuine concern.”