The 2012/2013 Champions League Thread

[creative_username_1]

it a game for poofs nowadays

[NTRoyal]

Genuinely amazed how many of you think it's a sending off. There was no way it was violent conduct, a high foot absolutely, but there was absolutely no intent to injure Arbeloa (?)

Intent has nothing to do with it.

Dangerous play = red. Rules have changed in the last 5 years or so.

So trying to control the ball is dangerous play? Why is it so much to ask that common sense and a bit of intelligence is applied when making decisions.

[Badger Finger]

Genuinely amazed how many of you think it's a sending off. There was no way it was violent conduct, a high foot absolutely, but there was absolutely no intent to injure Arbeloa (?)

Intent has nothing to do with it.

Dangerous play = red. Rules have changed in the last 5 years or so.

I think what NT is doing, is harping back to the days of grotty British football on ploughed fields, where you glamourise Graham Souness because he liked to pout his foot in.

Those days haven't existed for many many years. We need to move on, and think like the euro-footie-bots.

It'd be an instant red anywhere else in Europe

[winchester_royal]

I think it was ruined by one fella booting another one in the chest to be fair.

Yep, it was vicious, it was clear from the way Nani's eyes never left the flight path of the ball that he was intending to cause Arbeloa harm.

Intent not important though

Retired referee Dermot Gallagher on BBC Radio 5 live: "[The decision was] harsh to say the least but in fairness the Real player did Nani no favours whatsoever. At worst Nani catches the underside of his arm, certainly not the ribs as the guy has gone down and shown.

"I can't reiterate enough that he [Nani] is watching the ball over his shoulder, there was no malice in him. At worst it was a yellow for dangerous play, but if I was refereeing that game I cannot se what stretch of the imagination where I would have sent him off for that."

[ScottishRoyal]

Regardless of whether or not it should have been a red card, I'm sure we can all agree that watching United fall apart was great midweek viewing.

Not at all, I always support any British side in Europe and most people I know do the same. Are you happy that they'll be no British sides (in all likelhood) in the Quarter Finals?

[rhroyal]

Genuinely amazed how many of you think it's a sending off. There was no way it was violent conduct, a high foot absolutely, but there was absolutely no intent to injure Arbeloa (?)

Intent has nothing to do with it.

Dangerous play = red. Rules have changed in the last 5 years or so.

So trying to control the ball is dangerous play? Why is it so much to ask that common sense and a bit of intelligence is applied when making decisions.

Trying to control the ball at chest height when you're flying through the air at pace towards another player is definitely dangerous play, yes.

[Badger Finger]

Lolz at all the envious united haters queueing up to put the boot in after a clearly ludicrous refereeing decision.

I was 100% neutral tonight. Just hoping for a decent game. As football is, well, only sometimes... brilliant

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Regardless of whether or not it should have been a red card, I'm sure we can all agree that watching United fall apart was great midweek viewing.

Not at all, I always support any British side in Europe and most people I know do the same. Are you happy that they'll be no British sides (in all likelhood) in the Quarter Finals?

But that's about par for the standard of football in our league, so it doesnt bother me really

[ScottishRoyal]

Intent has nothing to do with it - he was totally reckless.

I just don'tget this view. His eyes were on the ball the whole time, it was a ball he had to challenge for. He never caught Arbeloa in the chest as some people on here have said, he caught his arm and side, and Arbeloa did make a bit of a meal of it.

I used to always watch football and rugby in equal measure but soft decisions like this and te pathetic play acting mean i'm watching football less and less.

[southbank1871]

Are the officials supposed to know whether or not a foul was intentional or not? Should a fifth official be brought in just to watch the eyes of the players to see if they're going for the ball?

It was a very reckless tackle which in Europe is always likely to be a red card. Fergie will no doubt in public blame the ref, but I suspect in private he will tear Nani a new one.

[creative_username_1]

Arbeloa took Nani out imho

#justicefornani

[Avon Royal]

Lolz at all the envious united haters queueing up to put the boot in after a clearly ludicrous refereeing decision.

Lolz at all the closet Man United fans throwing their toys out of their prams like spoilt brats.

[NTRoyal]

Trying to control the ball at chest height when you're flying through the air at pace towards another player is definitely dangerous play, yes.

But then surely any 50/50 tackle is dangerous play, if you are going into a full blooded challenge? Football is a contact sport, things like tonight will happen by nature. Reckless is not trying to play the ball in a totally reasonable way.

[ScottishRoyal]

Regardless of whether or not it should have been a red card, I'm sure we can all agree that watching United fall apart was great midweek viewing.

Not at all, I always support any British side in Europe and most people I know do the same. Are you happy that they'll be no British sides (in all likelhood) in the Quarter Finals?

But that's about par for the standard of football in our league, so it doesnt bother me really

True sadly, a weak for the home nations.

That said we didn't expect Reading to reach back to back FA CUp Quarters a few years ago but we still supported the side in the hope that it would happen.

[Anfield Kopite]

Lolz at all the envious united haters queueing up to put the boot in after a clearly ludicrous refereeing decision.

Yes it was ludicrous to dissallow Madrids first half goal. Did Fergie moan about that decision? Thought not.

[creative_username_1]

Whatever Adrian Durham says happened will confirm my opinion (i.e. the opposite).

[southbank1871]

I always find it a win-win watching United in Europe. I'm more than happy for them to do well as an English side with quite a few English players, but I will always LOL if they crash out, particularly if it's in slightly controversial circumstances.

[creative_username_1]

Whistle long gone before the ball is in the net....may have not/still gone in, who knows

[frimmers3]

they're manchester united: they do what they want.at least they will have more choices as what to do when the best eight teams fight for glory.

[creative_username_1]

I always find it a win-win watching United in Europe. I'm more than happy for them to do well as an English side with quite a few English players, but I will always LOL if they crash out, particularly if it's in slightly controversial circumstances.

I'm the same with Liverpool